Semiconductor device and display device including semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

The reliability of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor can be improved by suppressing a change in electrical characteristics. A transistor included in a semiconductor device includes a first oxide semiconductor film over a first insulating film, a gate insulating film over the first oxide semiconductor film, a second oxide semiconductor film over the gate insulating film, and a second insulating film over the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film. The first oxide semiconductor film includes a channel region in contact with the gate insulating film, a source region in contact with the second insulating film, and a drain region in contact with the second insulating film. The second oxide semiconductor film has a higher carrier density than the first oxide semiconductor film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a semiconductordevice including an oxide semiconductor film and a display deviceincluding the semiconductor device.

Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to theabove technical field. The technical field of one embodiment of theinvention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to anobject, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, the presentinvention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a compositionof matter. In particular, one embodiment of the present inventionrelates to a semiconductor device, a display device, a light-emittingdevice, a power storage device, a memory device, a driving methodthereof, or a manufacturing method thereof.

In this specification and the like, a semiconductor device generallymeans a device that can function by utilizing semiconductorcharacteristics. A semiconductor element such as a transistor, asemiconductor circuit, an arithmetic device, and a memory device areeach an embodiment of a semiconductor device. An imaging device, adisplay device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emittingdevice, an electro-optical device, a power generation device (includinga thin film solar cell, an organic thin film solar cell, and the like),and an electronic appliance may each include a semiconductor device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Attention has been focused on a technique for forming a transistor usinga semiconductor thin film formed over a substrate having an insulatingsurface (also referred to as a field-effect transistor (FET) or a thinfilm transistor (TFT)). Such transistors are applied to a wide range ofelectronic appliances such as an integrated circuit (IC) and an imagedisplay device (display device). A semiconductor material typified bysilicon is widely known as a material for a semiconductor thin film thatcan be used for a transistor. As another material, an oxidesemiconductor has been attracting attention.

For example, a technique in which a transistor is manufactured using anamorphous oxide containing In, Zn, Ga, Sn, and the like as an oxidesemiconductor is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). Furthermore, atechnique in which a transistor using an oxide thin film and aself-aligned top-gate structure is manufactured is disclosed (see PatentDocument 2).

Furthermore, a semiconductor device including, as a base insulatinglayer of an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel is formed, aninsulating layer that releases oxygen by heating to reduce oxygenvacancies in the oxide semiconductor layer is disclosed (see PatentDocument 3).

REFERENCE Patent Document [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published PatentApplication No. 2006-165529 [Patent Document 2] Japanese PublishedPatent Application No. 2009-278115 [Patent Document 3] JapanesePublished Patent Application No. 2012-009836 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As examples of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, aninverted staggered transistor (also referred to as a transistor having abottom-gate structure), a staggered transistor (also referred to as atransistor having a top-gate structure), and the like are given. In thecase where a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film is usedfor a display device, an inverted staggered transistor is used moreoften than a staggered transistor because a manufacturing processthereof is relatively simple and manufacturing cost thereof can be keptlow. However, signal delay or the like is increased by parasiticcapacitance that exists between a gate electrode and source and drainelectrodes of an inverted staggered transistor and accordingly imagequality of a display device degrades, which has posed a problem, as anincrease in screen size of a display device proceeds, or a displaydevice is provided with a higher resolution image (e.g., ahigh-resolution display device typified by 4K×2K pixels (3840 pixels inthe horizontal direction and 2160 pixels in the perpendicular direction)or 8K×4K pixels (7680 pixels in the horizontal direction and 4320 pixelsin the perpendicular direction)). Thus, with regard to a staggeredtransistor including an oxide semiconductor film, development of atransistor which has a structure with stable semiconductorcharacteristics and high reliability is desired.

Furthermore, in the case where a transistor is manufactured using anoxide semiconductor film for a channel region, an oxygen vacancy whichis formed in the channel region of the oxide semiconductor filmadversely affects the transistor characteristics. For example, formationof oxygen vacancies in a channel region of an oxide semiconductor filmcauses carrier generation. The carrier generation in the channel regionof the oxide semiconductor film causes a change in the electricalcharacteristics, typically, a shift in the threshold voltage, of thetransistor including the oxide semiconductor film in the channel region.Furthermore, there is a problem in that electrical characteristics varyamong the transistors. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount ofoxygen vacancy in the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film beas small as possible. Meanwhile, in the transistor including the oxidesemiconductor film in the channel region, it is preferable that theamount of oxygen vacancy in regions of the oxide semiconductor film thatare in contact with source and drain electrodes be as large as possibleand the resistance of the regions be as low as possible to reduce acontact resistance between the oxide semiconductor film and the sourceand drain electrodes.

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of one embodiment of thepresent invention is to suppress a change in electrical characteristicsand to improve reliability in a transistor including an oxidesemiconductor. Another object of one embodiment of the present inventionis to provide a staggered transistor including an oxide semiconductor.Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to providea transistor including an oxide semiconductor and having high on-statecurrent. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is toprovide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor and having lowoff-state current. Another object of one embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide a semiconductor device with low powerconsumption. Another object of one embodiment of the present inventionis to provide a novel semiconductor device.

Note that the description of the above objects does not disturb theexistence of other objects. In one embodiment of the present invention,there is no need to achieve all the objects. Other objects are apparentfrom and can be derived from the description of the specification andthe like.

One embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor deviceincluding a transistor. The transistor includes a first oxidesemiconductor film over a first insulating film, a gate insulating filmover the first oxide semiconductor film, a second oxide semiconductorfilm over the gate insulating film, and a second insulating film overthe first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductorfilm. The first oxide semiconductor film includes a channel region incontact with the gate insulating film, a source region in contact withthe second insulating film, and a drain region in contact with thesecond insulating film. The second oxide semiconductor film has a highercarrier density than the first oxide semiconductor film.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor deviceincluding a transistor. The transistor includes a first oxidesemiconductor film over a first insulating film, a gate insulating filmover the first oxide semiconductor film, a second oxide semiconductorfilm over the gate insulating film, a conductive film over the secondoxide semiconductor film, and a second insulating film over the firstoxide semiconductor film and the conductive film. The first oxidesemiconductor film includes a channel region in contact with the gateinsulating film, a source region in contact with the second insulatingfilm, and a drain region in contact with the second insulating film. Thesecond oxide semiconductor film has a higher carrier density than thefirst oxide semiconductor film.

In the above embodiment, it is preferable that an upper end portion ofthe gate insulating film be aligned with a lower end portion of thesecond oxide semiconductor film or positioned outside the lower endportion of the second oxide semiconductor film.

In the above embodiment, it is preferable that the second insulatingfilm contain one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen.

In the above embodiment, it is preferable that the transistor furtherinclude a third insulating film over the second insulating film, asource electrode connected to the source region through an opening inthe second insulating film and the third insulating film, and a drainelectrode connected to the drain region through an opening in the secondinsulating film and the third insulating film.

In the above embodiment, it is preferable that the source region and thedrain region each include a region with the same hydrogen concentrationas the second oxide semiconductor film. Moreover, in the aboveembodiment, it is preferable that the source region and the drain regioneach contain one or more of hydrogen, boron, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine,phosphorus, sulfur, and a rare gas.

In the above embodiment, it is preferable that one or both of the firstoxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film containoxygen, In, Zn, and M (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn). Moreover, in the aboveembodiment, it is preferable that one or both of the first oxidesemiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film contain acrystal part, and that the crystal part has c-axis alignment.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a display deviceincluding the semiconductor device according to any one of the aboveembodiments, and a display element. Another embodiment of the presentinvention is a display module including the display device and a touchsensor. Another embodiment of the present invention is an electronicappliance including the semiconductor device according to any one of theabove embodiments, the display device, or the display module; and anoperation key or a battery.

With one embodiment of the present invention, the reliability of atransistor including an oxide semiconductor can be improved bysuppressing a change in electrical characteristics. Furthermore, withone embodiment of the present invention, a staggered transistorincluding an oxide semiconductor can be provided. Furthermore, with oneembodiment of the present invention, a transistor including an oxidesemiconductor and having high on-state current can be provided.Furthermore, with one embodiment of the present invention, a transistorincluding an oxide semiconductor and having low off-state current can beprovided. Furthermore, with one embodiment of the present invention, asemiconductor device with low power consumption can be provided.Furthermore, with one embodiment of the present invention, a novelsemiconductor device can be provided.

Note that the description of these effects does not disturb theexistence of other effects. One embodiment of the present invention doesnot necessarily achieve all the effects listed above. Other effects willbe apparent from and can be derived from the description of thespecification, the drawings, the claims, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are a top view and cross-sectional views of asemiconductor device.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams each showing a band structure of atransistor.

FIGS. 13A to 13D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 14A to 14D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 16A to 16D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 17A to 17D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 18A to 18D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are cross-sectional views illustrating a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

FIGS. 20A to 20E show structural analyses of a CAAC-OS and a singlecrystal oxide semiconductor by XRD and selected-area electrondiffraction patterns of a CAAC-OS.

FIGS. 21A to 21E show a cross-sectional TEM image and plan-view TEMimages of a CAAC-OS and images obtained through analysis thereof.

FIGS. 22A to 22D show electron diffraction patterns and across-sectional TEM image of an nc-OS.

FIGS. 23A and 23B show cross-sectional TEM images of an a-like OS.

FIG. 24 shows a change in crystal part of an In—Ga—Zn oxide induced byelectron irradiation.

FIG. 25 is a top view illustrating one mode of a display device.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one mode of a displaydevice.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one mode of a displaydevice.

FIG. 28 illustrates a circuit configuration of a semiconductor device.

FIG. 29A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a pixel circuit,and FIG. 29B is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the pixelcircuit.

FIGS. 30A to 30C are a block diagram and circuit diagrams illustrating adisplay device.

FIG. 31 illustrates a display module.

FIGS. 32A to 32G illustrate electronic appliances.

FIGS. 33A to 33C each show Id-Vg characteristics of transistors in anexample.

FIGS. 34A and 34B are cross-sectional TEM images of transistors in anexample.

FIGS. 35A to 35C are a top view and cross-sectional views illustratingthe structure of a transistor for comparison in an example.

FIG. 36 shows electrical characteristics of transistors in an example.

FIG. 37 shows electrical characteristics of transistors in an example.

FIG. 38 shows electrical characteristics of transistors in an example.

FIG. 39 shows electrical characteristics of transistors in an example.

FIG. 40 shows electrical characteristics of transistors in an example.

FIGS. 41A to 41C show Id change rates of transistors, Id-Vgcharacteristics before and after a stress test, and Id-Vdcharacteristics before and after the stress test.

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional TEM image of a transistor in an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments and examples will be described with referenceto drawings. However, the embodiments and examples can be implementedwith various modes. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled inthe art that modes and details can be changed in various ways withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, thepresent invention should not be interpreted as being limited to thefollowing description of the embodiments and examples.

In the drawings, the size, the layer thickness, or the region isexaggerated for clarity in some cases. Therefore, embodiments andexamples of the present invention are not limited to such a scale. Notethat the drawings are schematic views showing ideal examples, andembodiments of the present invention are not limited to shapes or valuesshown in the drawings.

Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers such as “first,”“second,” and “third” are used in order to avoid confusion amongcomponents, and the terms do not limit the components numerically.

Note that in this specification, terms for describing arrangement, suchas “over”, “above”, “under”, and “below”, are used for convenience indescribing a positional relation between components with reference todrawings. Furthermore, the positional relation between components ischanged as appropriate in accordance with a direction in which eachcomponent is described. Thus, there is no limitation on terms used inthis specification, and description can be made appropriately dependingon the situation.

In this specification and the like, a transistor is an element having atleast three terminals of a gate, a drain, and a source. In addition, thetransistor has a channel region between a drain (a drain terminal, adrain region, or a drain electrode) and a source (a source terminal, asource region, or a source electrode), and current can flow through thedrain, the channel region, and the source. Note that in thisspecification and the like, a channel region refers to a region throughwhich current mainly flows.

Furthermore, functions of a source and a drain might be switched whentransistors having different polarities are employed or a direction ofcurrent flow is changed in circuit operation, for example. Therefore,the terms “source” and “drain” can be switched in this specification andthe like.

Note that in this specification and the like, the expression“electrically connected” includes the case where components areconnected through an “object having any electric function”. There is noparticular limitation on an “object having any electric function” aslong as electric signals can be transmitted and received betweencomponents that are connected through the object. Examples of an “objecthaving any electric function” are a switching element such as atransistor, a resistor, an inductor, a capacitor, and elements with avariety of functions as well as an electrode and a wiring.

In this specification and the like, the term “parallel” indicates thatthe angle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to−10° and less than or equal to 10°, and accordingly also includes thecase where the angle is greater than or equal to −5° and less than orequal to 5°. In addition, the term “perpendicular” indicates that theangle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to 80°and less than or equal to 100° and accordingly also includes the casewhere the angle is greater than or equal to 85° and less than or equalto 95°.

In this specification and the like, the terms “film” and “layer” can beinterchanged with each other. For example, the term “conductive layer”can be changed into the term “conductive film” in some cases.Furthermore, the term “insulating film” can be changed into the term“insulating layer” in some cases.

Unless otherwise specified, the off-state current in this specificationand the like refers to a drain current of a transistor in the off state(also referred to as non-conduction state and cutoff state). Unlessotherwise specified, the off state of an n-channel transistor means thatthe voltage between its gate and source (Vgs: gate-source voltage) islower than the threshold voltage Vth, and the off state of a p-channeltransistor means that the gate-source voltage Vgs is higher than thethreshold voltage Vth. For example, the off-state current of ann-channel transistor sometimes refers to a drain current that flows whenthe gate-source voltage Vgs is lower than the threshold voltage Vth.

The off-state current of a transistor depends on Vgs in some cases. Forthis reason, when there is Vgs at which the off-state current of atransistor is lower than or equal to I, it may be said that theoff-state current of the transistor is lower than or equal to I. Theoff-state current of a transistor may refer to off-state current atgiven Vgs, off-state current at Vgs in a given range, or off-statecurrent at Vgs at which sufficiently low off-state current is obtained.

As an example, the assumption is made of an n-channel transistor wherethe threshold voltage Vth is 0.5 V and the drain current is 1×10⁻⁹ A atVgs of 0.5 V, 1×10⁻¹³ A at Vgs of 0.1 V, 1×10⁻¹⁹ A at Vgs of −0.5 V, and1×10⁻²² A at Vgs of −0.8 V. The drain current of the transistor is1×10⁻¹⁹ A or lower at Vgs of −0.5 V or at Vgs in the range of −0.8 V to−0.5 V; therefore, it can be said that the off-state current of thetransistor is 1×10⁻¹⁹ A or lower. Since there is Vgs at which the draincurrent of the transistor is 1×10⁻²² A or lower, it may be said that theoff-state current of the transistor is 1×10⁻²² A or lower.

In this specification and the like, the off-state current of atransistor with a channel width W is sometimes represented by a currentvalue in relation to the channel width W or by a current value per givenchannel width (e.g., 1 μm). In the latter case, the unit of off-statecurrent may be represented by current per length (e.g., A/μm).

The off-state current of a transistor depends on temperature in somecases. Unless otherwise specified, the off-state current in thisspecification may be off-state current at room temperature, 60° C., 85°C., 95° C., or 125° C. Alternatively, the off-state current may beoff-state current at a temperature at which the reliability of asemiconductor device or the like including the transistor is ensured ora temperature at which the semiconductor device or the like includingthe transistor is used (e.g., temperature in the range of 5° C. to 35°C.). When there is Vgs at which the off-state current of a transistor atroom temperature, 60° C., 85° C., 95° C., 125° C., a temperature atwhich the reliability of a semiconductor device or the like includingthe transistor is ensured, or a temperature at which the semiconductordevice or the like including the transistor is used (e.g., temperaturein the range of 5° C. to 35° C.) is lower than or equal to I, it may besaid that the off-state current of the transistor is lower than or equalto I.

The off-state current of a transistor depends on voltage Vds between itsdrain and source in some cases. Unless otherwise specified, theoff-state current in this specification may be off-state current at Vdsof 0.1 V, 0.8 V, 1 V, 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3 V, 3.3 V, 10 V, 12 V, 16 V,or 20 V. Alternatively, the off-state current may be off-state currentat Vds at which the reliability of a semiconductor device or the likeincluding the transistor is ensured or Vds used in the semiconductordevice or the like including the transistor. When there is Vgs at whichthe off-state current of a transistor at Vds of 0.1 V, 0.8 V, 1 V, 1.2V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3 V, 3.3 V, 10 V, 12 V, 16 V, or 20 V, at Vds at whichthe reliability of a semiconductor device or the like including thetransistor is ensured, or at Vds at which the semiconductor device orthe like including the transistor is used is lower than or equal to I,it may be said that the off-state current of the transistor is lowerthan or equal to I.

In the above description of off-state current, a drain may be replacedwith a source. That is, the off-state current sometimes refers tocurrent that flows through a source of a transistor in the off state.

In this specification and the like, the term “leakage current” sometimesexpresses the same meaning as off-state current. In this specificationand the like, the off-state current sometimes refers to current thatflows between a source and a drain when a transistor is off, forexample.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, examples of a semiconductor device including atransistor and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C, FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIGS. 3A to3C, FIGS. 4A to 4C, FIGS. 5A to 5C, FIGS. 6A to 6C, FIGS. 7A and 7B,FIGS. 8A and 8B, FIGS. 9A and 9B, FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIGS. 11A and 11B,FIGS. 12A and 12B, FIGS. 13A to 13D, FIGS. 14A to 14D, FIGS. 15A to 15C,FIGS. 16A to 16D, FIGS. 17A to 17D, FIGS. 18A to 18D, and FIGS. 19A and19B.

1-1. Structure Example 1 of Semiconductor Device

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate an example of a semiconductor device includinga transistor. Note that the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C hasa top-gate structure.

FIG. 1A is a top view of a transistor 100. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectionalview taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG.1A. Note that in FIG. 1A, components such as an insulating film 110 areomitted for clarity. In a manner similar to that of FIG. 1A, somecomponents are not illustrated in some cases in top views of transistorsdescribed below. Furthermore, the direction of the dashed-dotted lineX1-X2 may be called a channel length (L) direction, and the direction ofthe dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 may be called a channel width (W)direction.

The transistor 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C includes an insulatingfilm 104 formed over a substrate 102, an oxide semiconductor film 108over the insulating film 104, the insulating film 110 over the oxidesemiconductor film 108, an oxide semiconductor film 112 over theinsulating film 110, and an insulating film 116 over the insulating film104 and the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112. Furthermore, theoxide semiconductor film 108 has a channel region 108 i overlapping withthe oxide semiconductor film 112 and in contact with the insulating film110, a source region 108 s in contact with the insulating film 116, anda drain region 108 d in contact with the insulating film 116.

The transistor 100 may include an insulating film 118 over theinsulating film 116, a conductive film 120 a electrically connected tothe source region 108 s through an opening 141 a provided in theinsulating films 116 and 118, and a conductive film 120 b electricallyconnected to the drain region 108 d through an opening 141 b provided inthe insulating films 116 and 118.

In this specification and the like, the insulating film 104 is referredto as a first insulating film, the insulating film 116 is referred to asa second insulating film, and the insulating film 118 is referred to asa third insulating film in some cases. The insulating film 110 functionsas a gate insulating film, and the oxide semiconductor film 112functions as a gate electrode. The conductive film 120 a and theconductive film 120 b function as a source electrode and a drainelectrode, respectively.

The insulating film 116 contains one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen.From the insulating film 116 containing one or both of nitrogen andhydrogen, one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen can be supplied to theoxide semiconductor films 108 and 112.

The oxide semiconductor film 112 has a function of supplying oxygen tothe insulating film 110. The oxide semiconductor film 112 having afunction of supplying oxygen to the insulating film 110 enables theinsulating film 110 to contain excess oxygen. When the insulating film110 includes an excess oxygen region, excess oxygen can be supplied tothe oxide semiconductor film 108, specifically, the channel region 108i. Thus, a highly reliable semiconductor device can be obtained.

The insulating film 104, which is formed under the oxide semiconductorfilm 108, may contain excess oxygen to supply it to the oxidesemiconductor film 108. However, in the case where the insulating film104 contains excess oxygen, the excess oxygen contained in theinsulating film 104 is also possibly supplied to the source region 108 sand the drain region 108 d of the oxide semiconductor film 108. Ifexcess oxygen is supplied to the source region 108 s and the drainregion 108 d, the resistance of the source region 108 s and the drainregion 108 d might be increased.

In contrast, in the structure in which the insulating film 110 formedover the oxide semiconductor film 108 contains excess oxygen, excessoxygen can be selectively supplied to the channel region 108 i.Alternatively, after excess oxygen is supplied to the channel region 108i, the source region 108 s, and the drain region 108 d, the carrierdensity in the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d may beselectively increased.

The carrier density in the oxide semiconductor film 112 having suppliedoxygen to the insulating film 110 is increased by one or both ofnitrogen and hydrogen supplied from the insulating film 116. In otherwords, the oxide semiconductor film 112 also functions as an oxideconductor (OC). Thus, the oxide semiconductor film 112 has a highercarrier density than the oxide semiconductor film 108.

Furthermore, the oxide semiconductor film 112 and the source region 108s and the drain region 108 d of the oxide semiconductor film 108 mayeach contain an element that forms an oxygen vacancy. Typical examplesof the element that forms an oxygen vacancy include hydrogen, boron,carbon, nitrogen, fluorine, phosphorus, sulfur, chorine, and a rare gaselement. Typical examples of the rare gas element include helium, neon,argon, krypton, and xenon.

When an impurity element is added to the oxide semiconductor film, abond between a metal element and oxygen in the oxide semiconductor filmis cut, whereby an oxygen vacancy is formed. Alternatively, when animpurity element is added to the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen bondedto a metal element in the oxide semiconductor film is bonded to theimpurity element, and the oxygen is released from the metal element,whereby an oxygen vacancy is formed. As a result, the oxidesemiconductor film has a higher carrier density and thus theconductivity thereof becomes higher.

The transistor 100 preferably has a region in which a side end portionof the insulating film 110 is aligned with a side end portion of theoxide semiconductor film 112. In other words, in the transistor 100, anupper end portion of the insulating film 110 is substantially alignedwith a lower end portion of the oxide semiconductor film 112. The abovestructure can be obtained by processing the insulating film 110 with theuse of the oxide semiconductor film 112 as a mask, for example.

Next, details of other components included in the semiconductor deviceillustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C are described.

[Substrate]

As the substrate 102, any of a variety of substrates can be used withoutparticular limitation. Examples of the substrate include a semiconductorsubstrate (e.g., a single crystal substrate or a silicon substrate), anSOI substrate, a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a plasticsubstrate, a metal substrate, a stainless steel substrate, a substrateincluding stainless steel foil, a tungsten substrate, a substrateincluding tungsten foil, a flexible substrate, an attachment film, paperincluding a fibrous material, and a base material film. Examples of aglass substrate include a barium borosilicate glass substrate, analuminoborosilicate glass substrate, and a soda lime glass substrate.Examples of the flexible substrate, the attachment film, and the basematerial film are plastics typified by polyethylene terephthalate (PET),polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polyether sulfone (PES), a syntheticresin of acrylic or the like, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyimide, aramid, epoxy, aninorganic vapor deposition film, paper, and the like. In particular, byforming the transistor with the use of a semiconductor substrate, asingle crystal substrate, an SOT substrate, or the like, transistorswith fewer variations in characteristics, sizes, shapes, or the like,with high current supply capability, and with small sizes can be formed.By forming a circuit using such a transistor, power consumption of thecircuit can be reduced or the circuit can be highly integrated.

A flexible substrate may be used as the substrate 102, and thetransistor may be provided directly on the flexible substrate.Alternatively, a separation layer may be provided between the substrate102 and the transistor. The separation layer can be used when part orthe whole of a semiconductor device formed over the separation layer isseparated from the substrate 102 and transferred onto another substrate.In such a case, the transistor can be transferred to a substrate havinglow heat resistance or a flexible substrate as well. For the aboveseparation layer, a stack including inorganic films, which are atungsten film and a silicon oxide film, or an organic resin film ofpolyimide or the like formed over a substrate can be used, for example.

Examples of a substrate to which the transistor is transferred include,in addition to the above-described substrates over which the transistorcan be formed, a paper substrate, a cellophane substrate, an aramid filmsubstrate, a polyimide film substrate, a stone substrate, a woodsubstrate, a cloth substrate (including a natural fiber (e.g., silk,cotton, or hemp), a synthetic fiber (e.g., nylon, polyurethane, orpolyester), a regenerated fiber (e.g., acetate, cupra, rayon, orregenerated polyester), or the like), a leather substrate, and a rubbersubstrate. By using such a substrate, a transistor with excellentcharacteristics or a transistor with low power consumption can beformed, a device with high durability can be formed, heat resistance canbe provided, or a reduction in weight or thickness can be achieved.

[First Insulating Film]

The insulating film 104 can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVDmethod, an evaporation method, a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method, aprinting method, a coating method, or the like as appropriate. Theinsulating film 104 can be formed with a single layer or a stack using,for example, an oxide insulating film or a nitride insulating film. Notethat an oxide insulating film is preferably used for at least a regionof the insulating film 104 which is in contact with the oxidesemiconductor film 108, in order to improve characteristics of theinterface with the oxide semiconductor film 108. When the insulatingfilm 104 is formed using an oxide insulating film that releases oxygenby heating, oxygen contained in the insulating film 104 can be moved tothe oxide semiconductor film 108 by heat treatment.

The thickness of the insulating film 104 can be greater than or equal to50 nm, greater than or equal to 100 nm and less than or equal to 3000nm, or greater than or equal to 200 nm and less than or equal to 1000nm. With the use of the thick insulating film 104, the amount of oxygenreleased from the insulating film 104 can be increased, and theinterface state at the interface between the insulating film 104 and theoxide semiconductor film 108 and oxygen vacancies included in thechannel region 108 i of the oxide semiconductor film 108 can be reduced.

The insulating film 104 can be formed with a single layer or a stackusing, for example, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitrideoxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, gallium oxide, ora Ga—Zn oxide. In this embodiment, a stacked-layer structure of asilicon nitride film and a silicon oxynitride film is used as theinsulating film 104. When the insulating film 104 has a stacked-layerstructure of the silicon nitride film as a lower layer and the siliconoxynitride film as an upper layer, oxygen can be efficiently introducedinto the oxide semiconductor film 108.

[Oxide Semiconductor Film]

One or both of the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112 are formedusing a metal oxide such as an In-M-Zn oxide (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn).Alternatively, an In—Ga oxide or an In—Zn oxide may be used for theoxide semiconductor films 108 and 112. It is particularly preferablethat the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112 be formed using metaloxides containing the same constituent elements because manufacturingcost can be reduced.

Note that in the case where an In-M-Zn oxide is used as the oxidesemiconductor films 108 and 112, when the summation of In and M isassumed to be 100 atomic %, the proportions of In and M are as follows:the proportions of In and M are preferably set to be greater than 25atomic % and less than 75 atomic %, respectively, or greater than 34atomic % and less than 66 atomic %, respectively.

It is preferable that energy gaps of the oxide semiconductor films 108and 112 be each 2 eV or more, 2.5 eV or more, or 3 eV or more.

The thickness of the oxide semiconductor film 108 is greater than orequal to 3 nm and less than or equal to 200 nm, preferably greater thanor equal to 3 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm and further preferablygreater than or equal to 3 nm and less than or equal to 60 nm. Thethickness of the oxide semiconductor film 112 is greater than or equalto 5 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, preferably greater than orequal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 300 nm and further preferablygreater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm.

In the case where the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112 are each anIn-M-Zn oxide, it is preferable that the atomic ratio of metal elementsof a sputtering target used to form a film of the In-M-Zn oxide satisfyIn≧M and Zn≧M. As the atomic ratio of metal elements of such asputtering target, In:M:Zn=1:1:1, In:M:Zn=1:1:1.2, In:M:Zn=2:1:1.5,In:M:Zn=2:1:2.3, In:M:Zn=2:1:3, In:M:Zn=3:1:2, In:M:Zn=4:2:4.1,In:M:Zn=5:1:7, or the like is preferable. Note that the atomic ratios ofmetal elements in the formed oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112 mayvary from the above atomic ratio of metal elements of the sputteringtarget within a range of approximately ±40%. For example, in the casewhere a sputtering target with an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 isused, atomic ratios of In:Ga:Zn in the formed oxide semiconductor films108 and 112 each may be 4:2:3 and its vicinity.

When contained in the oxide semiconductor film 108, silicon or carbon,which are elements belonging to Group 14, may cause oxygen vacancies tobe increased and the oxide semiconductor film to have n-typeconductivity. To prevent this, the concentration of silicon or carbon(measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry) in the oxide semiconductorfilm 108, particularly in the channel region 108 i, is preferably lowerthan or equal to 2×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ or lower than or equal to 2×10¹⁷atoms/cm³. As a result, the transistor has a positive threshold voltage(normally-off characteristics).

Furthermore, the concentration of alkali metal or alkaline earth metalin the channel region 108 i, which is measured by secondary ion massspectrometry, can be lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³, or lowerthan or equal to 2×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³. Alkali metal and alkaline earth metalmight generate carriers when bonded to an oxide semiconductor, in whichcase the off-state current of the transistor might be increased.Therefore, it is preferable to reduce the concentration of alkali metalor alkaline earth metal in the channel region 108 i. As a result, thetransistor has positive threshold voltage (normally-offcharacteristics).

Furthermore, when nitrogen is contained in the channel region 108 i,electrons serving as carriers are generated, the carrier density isincreased, and the region becomes an n-type in some cases. Thus, atransistor including an oxide semiconductor film which contains nitrogenis likely to have normally-on characteristics. For this reason, nitrogenin the channel region 108 i is preferably reduced as much as possible.The nitrogen concentration, which is measured by secondary ion massspectrometry, may be, for example, lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁸atoms/cm³.

When the impurity element in the channel region is reduced, the carrierdensity of the oxide semiconductor film can be lowered. Therefore, thechannel region 108 i can have a carrier density less than or equal to1×10¹⁷/cm³, less than or equal to 1×10¹⁵/cm³, less than or equal to1×10¹³/cm³, or less than or equal to 1×10¹¹/cm³.

Note that an oxide semiconductor film with low impurity concentrationand low density of defect states can be used for the channel region 108i, in which case the transistor can have more excellent electricalcharacteristics. Here, the state in which the impurity concentration islow and the density of defect states is low (the amount of oxygenvacancies is small) is referred to as a “highly purified intrinsic”,“substantially highly purified intrinsic”, “intrinsic”, or“substantially intrinsic”. A highly purified intrinsic or substantiallyhighly purified intrinsic oxide semiconductor has few carrier generationsources, and thus has a low carrier density in some cases. Thus, atransistor whose channel region is formed in the oxide semiconductorfilm is likely to have positive threshold voltage (normally-offcharacteristics). The highly purified intrinsic or substantially highlypurified intrinsic oxide semiconductor film has low density of defectstates and accordingly has low density of trap states in some cases.Furthermore, the highly purified intrinsic or substantially highlypurified intrinsic oxide semiconductor film has extremely low off-statecurrent. Thus, the transistor whose channel region is formed in theoxide semiconductor film has little variation in electricalcharacteristics and high reliability in some cases.

Meanwhile, the source region 108 s, the drain region 108 d, and theoxide semiconductor film 112 are in contact with the insulating film116. One or both of hydrogen and nitrogen are added from the insulatingfilm 116 to the source region 108 s, the drain region 108 d, and theoxide semiconductor film 112 in contact with the insulating film 116, sothat the carrier densities in the source region 108 s, the drain region108 d, and the oxide semiconductor film 112 are increased.

Furthermore, one or both of the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112may have a non-single-crystal structure. The non-single-crystalstructure includes a c-axis aligned crystalline oxide semiconductor(CAAC-OS) which is described later, a polycrystalline structure, amicrocrystalline structure described later, or an amorphous structure,for example. Among the non-single-crystal structure, the amorphousstructure has the highest density of defect states, whereas CAAC-OS hasthe lowest density of defect states.

Note that the oxide semiconductor film 108 may be a single film or astacked films each including two or more of the following: a regionhaving an amorphous structure, a region having a microcrystallinestructure, a region having a polycrystalline structure, a CAAC-OSregion, and a region having a single-crystal structure. Note that theoxide semiconductor film 112 may be a single film or a stacked filmseach including two or more of the following: a region having anamorphous structure, a region having a microcrystalline structure, aregion having a polycrystalline structure, a CAAC-OS region, and aregion having a single-crystal structure.

Note that in the oxide semiconductor film 108, the crystallinity of thechannel region 108 i is different from the crystallinity of each of thesource region 108 s and the drain region 108 d in some cases.Specifically, in the oxide semiconductor film 108, the crystallinity ofeach of the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d is lower thanthe crystallinity of the channel region 108 i in some cases. This isbecause, when the impurity element is added to the source region 108 sand the drain region 108 d, the source region 108 s and the drain region108 d are damaged and thus have lower crystallinity.

[Insulating Film Functioning as Gate Insulating Film]

The insulating film 110 can be formed with a single layer or a stackusing an oxide insulating film or a nitride insulating film. Note thatan oxide insulating film is preferably used for at least a region of theinsulating film 110 which is in contact with the oxide semiconductorfilm 108, in order to improve characteristics of the interface with theoxide semiconductor film 108. The insulating film 110 can be formed witha single layer or a stack using, for example, silicon oxide, siliconoxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide,hafnium oxide, gallium oxide, or a Ga—Zn oxide.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent outward diffusion of oxygen fromthe oxide semiconductor film 108 and entry of hydrogen, water, and thelike into the oxide semiconductor film 108 from the outside by providingan insulating film having a blocking effect against oxygen, hydrogen,water, and the like as the insulating film 110. As the insulating filmwhich has an effect of blocking oxygen, hydrogen, water, and the like,an aluminum oxide film, an aluminum oxynitride film, a gallium oxidefilm, a gallium oxynitride film, an yttrium oxide film, an yttriumoxynitride film, a hafnium oxide film, a hafnium oxynitride film, or thelike can be used.

The insulating film 110 may be formed using a high-k material such ashafnium silicate (HfSiO_(x)), hafnium silicate to which nitrogen isadded (HfSi_(x)O_(y)N_(z)), hafnium aluminate to which nitrogen is added(HfAl_(x)O_(y)N_(z)), hafnium oxide, or yttrium oxide, so that gateleakage current of the transistor can be reduced.

When the insulating film 110 is formed using an oxide insulating filmthat releases oxygen by heating, oxygen contained in the insulating film110 can be moved to the oxide semiconductor film 108 by heat treatment.

The thickness of the insulating film 110 can be greater than or equal to5 nm and less than or equal to 400 nm, greater than or equal to 5 nm andless than or equal to 300 nm, or greater than or equal to 10 nm and lessthan or equal to 250 nm.

[Second Insulating Film]

The insulating film 116 contains one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen.The insulating film 116 is a nitride insulating film, for example. Thenitride insulating film can be formed using silicon nitride, siliconnitride oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum nitride oxide, or the like.The hydrogen concentration in the insulating film 116 is preferablyhigher than or equal to 1×10²² atoms/cm³. Furthermore, the insulatingfilm 116 is in contact with the source region 108 s and the drain region108 d of the oxide semiconductor film 108. The insulating film 116 isalso in contact with the oxide semiconductor film 112. Therefore, thehydrogen concentrations in the source region 108 s, the drain region 108d, and the oxide semiconductor film 112 in contact with the insulatingfilm 116 are increased; thus, the carrier densities in the source region108 s, the drain region 108 d, and the oxide semiconductor film 112 canbe increased. Since the source region 108 s, the drain region 108 d, andthe oxide semiconductor film 112 are in contact with the insulating film116, they have regions with the same hydrogen concentration in somecases.

[Third Insulating Film]

The insulating film 118 can be formed with a single layer or a stackusing an oxide insulating film or a nitride insulating film. Theinsulating film 118 can be formed with a single layer or a stack using,for example, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide,silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, gallium oxide, or aGa—Zn oxide.

The insulating film 118 is preferably a film functioning as a barrierfilm against hydrogen, water, and the like from the outside.

The thickness of the insulating film 118 can be greater than or equal to30 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, or greater than or equal to 100nm and less than or equal to 400 nm.

[Conductive Film]

The conductive films 120 a and 120 b can be formed by a sputteringmethod, a vacuum evaporation method, a pulsed laser deposition (PLD)method, a thermal CVD method, or the like. The conductive films 120 aand 120 b can be formed using, for example, a metal element selectedfrom aluminum, chromium, copper, tantalum, titanium, molybdenum, nickel,iron, cobalt, and tungsten; an alloy containing any of these metalelements as a component; an alloy containing these metal elements incombination; or the like. Furthermore, one or more metal elementsselected from manganese and zirconium may be used. The conductive films120 a and 120 b may each have a single-layer structure or astacked-layer structure of two or more layers. For example, any of thefollowing can be used: a single-layer structure of an aluminum filmcontaining silicon; a single-layer structure of a copper film containingmanganese; a two-layer structure in which a titanium film is stackedover an aluminum film; a two-layer structure in which a titanium film isstacked over a titanium nitride film; a two-layer structure in which atungsten film is stacked over a titanium nitride film; a two-layerstructure in which a tungsten film is stacked over a tantalum nitridefilm or a tungsten nitride film; a two-layer structure in which a copperfilm is stacked over a copper film containing manganese; a two-layerstructure in which a copper film is stacked over a titanium film; athree-layer structure in which a titanium film, an aluminum film, and atitanium film are stacked in this order; and a three-layer structure inwhich a copper film containing manganese, a copper film, and a copperfilm containing manganese are stacked in this order. Alternatively, analloy film or a nitride film in which aluminum and one or more elementsselected from titanium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium,neodymium, and scandium are combined may be used.

The conductive films 120 a and 120 b can also be formed using alight-transmitting conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO),indium oxide containing tungsten oxide, indium zinc oxide containingtungsten oxide, indium oxide containing titanium oxide, indium tin oxidecontaining titanium oxide, indium zinc oxide, or indium tin oxidecontaining silicon (also referred to as In—Sn—Si oxide or ITSO). It isalso possible to have a stacked-layer structure of the abovelight-transmitting conductive material and the above metal element.

The thicknesses of the conductive films 120 a and 120 b each can begreater than or equal to 30 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, orgreater than or equal to 100 nm and less than or equal to 400 nm.

1-2. Structure Example 2 of Semiconductor Device

A structure of a semiconductor device, which is different from that ofthe semiconductor device illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, is describedwith reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a transistor 150. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectionalview taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG.2A.

The transistor 150 illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C includes the insulatingfilm 104 formed over the substrate 102, the oxide semiconductor film 108over the insulating film 104, the insulating film 110 over the oxidesemiconductor film 108, the oxide semiconductor film 112 over theinsulating film 110, a conductive film 114 over the oxide semiconductorfilm 112, and the insulating film 116 over the insulating film 104, theoxide semiconductor films 108, and the conductive film 114. Furthermore,the oxide semiconductor film 108 has the channel region 108 ioverlapping with the oxide semiconductor film 112 and in contact withthe insulating film 110, the source region 108 s in contact with theinsulating film 116, and the drain region 108 d in contact with theinsulating film 116.

The transistor 150 may include the insulating film 118 over theinsulating film 116, the conductive film 120 a electrically connected tothe source region 108 s through the opening 141 a provided in theinsulating films 116 and 118, and the conductive film 120 b electricallyconnected to the drain region 108 d through the opening 141 b providedin the insulating films 116 and 118.

Note that in the transistor 150, the oxide semiconductor film 112 andthe conductive film 114 function as a gate electrode. In addition, theconductive film 114 has a function of changing the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 into an n-type semiconductor film, whereby the oxidesemiconductor film 112 functions as part of the gate electrode.

The insulating film 116 contains one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen.From the insulating film 116 containing one or both of nitrogen andhydrogen, one or both of nitrogen and hydrogen can be supplied to thesource region 108 s and the drain region 108 d.

The oxide semiconductor film 112 has a function of supplying oxygen tothe insulating film 110. The oxide semiconductor film 112 having afunction of supplying oxygen to the insulating film 110 enables theinsulating film 110 to contain excess oxygen. When the insulating film110 includes an excess oxygen region, excess oxygen can be supplied tothe channel region 108 i. Thus, a highly reliable semiconductor devicecan be obtained.

The carrier density of the oxide semiconductor film 112 having suppliedoxygen to the insulating film 110 is increased. In addition, the contactof the oxide semiconductor film 112 with the conductive film 114 allowsthe diffusion of the component of the conductive film 114 to the oxidesemiconductor film 112; accordingly, the carrier density of the oxidesemiconductor film 112 might be increased. In other words, the oxidesemiconductor film 112 also functions as an oxide conductor (OC). Thus,there is no need to increase the number of manufacturing steps and theoxide semiconductor film 112 can function as part of the gate electrode.

The conductive film 114 is formed using a method and a material similarto those of the conductive films 120 a and 120 b described above. It isparticularly preferable to form the conductive film 114 by a sputteringmethod using titanium, copper, or tungsten. With the use of titanium,copper, or tungsten for the conductive film 114, the conductivity of theoxide semiconductor film 112 in contact with the conductive film 114 canbe improved. Note that the conductive film 114 may have a stacked-layerstructure. For example, a stacked-layer structure in which a copper filmis provided over a copper film containing manganese or a stacked-layerstructure in which an aluminum film is provided over a tungsten film maybe employed.

1-3. Structure Example 3 of Semiconductor Device

A structure of a semiconductor device, which is different from that ofthe semiconductor device illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, is describedwith reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

FIG. 3A is a top view of a transistor 100A. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectionalview taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG.3A.

The transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C includes a conductivefilm 106 formed over the substrate 102, the insulating film 104 formedover the conductive film 106, the oxide semiconductor film 108 over theinsulating film 104, the insulating film 110 over the oxidesemiconductor film 108, the oxide semiconductor film 112 over theinsulating film 110, and the insulating film 116 over the insulatingfilm 104 and the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112. Furthermore, theoxide semiconductor film 108 has the channel region 108 i in contactwith the insulating film 110, the source region 108 s in contact withthe insulating film 116, and the drain region 108 d in contact with theinsulating film 116.

The transistor 100A includes the conductive film 106 and an opening 143in addition to the components of the transistor 100 described above.

Note that the opening 143 is provided in the insulating films 104 and110. The conductive film 106 is electrically connected to the oxidesemiconductor film 112 through the opening 143. Therefore, the samepotential is applied to the conductive film 106 and the oxidesemiconductor film 112. Note that the opening 143 is not necessarilyprovided, so that different potentials are supplied to the conductivefilm 106 and the oxide semiconductor film 112.

The conductive film 106 functions as a first gate electrode (alsoreferred to as a bottom gate electrode), and the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 functions as a second gate electrode (also referred to as a topgate electrode). The insulating film 104 functions as a first gateinsulating film, and the insulating film 110 functions as a second gateinsulating film.

In this manner, the transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C isdifferent from the transistor 100 described above and has a structure inwhich the conductive film and the oxide semiconductor film functioningas the gate electrodes are provided over and under the oxidesemiconductor film 108. As in the transistor 100A, two or more gateelectrodes may be provided in the semiconductor device of one embodimentof the present invention.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the oxide semiconductor film 108faces the conductive film 106 functioning as the first gate electrodeand the oxide semiconductor film 112 functioning as the second gateelectrode, and is positioned between the conductive film and the oxidesemiconductor film which function as gate electrodes.

The length in the channel width direction of the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 is longer than the length in the channel width direction of theoxide semiconductor film 108. In the channel width direction, the wholeoxide semiconductor film 108 is covered with the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 with the insulating film 110 provided therebetween. Since theoxide semiconductor film 112 is connected to the conductive film 106through the opening 143 provided in the insulating films 104 and 110, aside surface of the oxide semiconductor film 108 in the channel widthdirection faces the oxide semiconductor film 112.

In other words, in the channel width direction of the transistor 100A,the conductive film 106 and the oxide semiconductor film 112 areconnected to each other through the opening 143 provided in theinsulating films 104 and 110, and the conductive film 106 and the oxidesemiconductor film 112 surround the oxide semiconductor film 108 withthe insulating films 104 and 110 provided therebetween.

Such a structure enables electric fields of the conductive film 106functioning as the first gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor film112 functioning as the second gate electrode to electrically surroundthe oxide semiconductor film 108 included in the transistor 100A. Adevice structure of a transistor, like that of the transistor 100A, inwhich electric fields of the first gate electrode and the second gateelectrode electrically surround the oxide semiconductor film 108 inwhich a channel region is formed can be referred to as a surroundedchannel (s-channel) structure.

Since the transistor 100A has the s-channel structure, an electric fieldfor inducing a channel can be effectively applied to the oxidesemiconductor film 108 by the conductive film 106 or the oxidesemiconductor film 112; therefore, the current drive capability of thetransistor 100A can be improved and high on-state currentcharacteristics can be obtained. Since the on-state current can beincreased, it is possible to reduce the size of the transistor 100A. Inaddition, since the oxide semiconductor film 108 is surrounded by theconductive film 106 and the oxide semiconductor film 112, the mechanicalstrength of the oxide semiconductor film 108 can be increased.

Note that in the channel width direction of the transistor 100A, anopening which is different from the opening 143 may be formed on theside of the oxide semiconductor film 108 where the opening 143 is notformed.

When a transistor has a pair of gate electrodes between which asemiconductor film is interposed as in the case of the transistor 100A,a signal A may be applied to one gate electrode and a fixed potential Vbmay be applied to the other gate electrode. Alternatively, the signal Amay be applied to one gate electrode and a signal B may be applied tothe other gate electrode. Further alternatively, a fixed potential Vamay be applied to one gate electrode and a fixed potential Vb may beapplied to the other gate electrode.

The signal A is, for example, a signal for controlling a conductionstate and a non-conduction state. The signal A may be a digital signalhaving two kinds of potentials, a potential V1 and a potential V2 (whereV1>V2). For example, the potential V1 can be a high power supplypotential and the potential V2 can be a low power supply potential. Thesignal A may be an analog signal.

The fixed potential Vb is, for example, a potential for controllingthreshold voltage VthA of the transistor. The fixed potential Vb may bethe potential V1 or the potential V2. The fixed potential Vb may be apotential different from the potential V1 or the potential V2. In somecases, the threshold voltage VthA can be high by setting the fixedpotential Vb low. As a result, drain current generated when gate-sourcevoltage Vgs is 0 V can be reduced and leakage current in the circuitincluding the transistor can be reduced in some cases. For example, thefixed potential Vb may be set to be lower than the low power supplypotential. On the other hand, in some cases, the threshold voltage VthAcan be low by setting the fixed potential Vb high. As a result, draincurrent generated when the gate-source voltage Vgs is VDD can beincreased and the operating speed of the circuit including thetransistor can be improved in some cases. For example, the fixedpotential Vb may be set to be higher than the low power supplypotential.

The signal B is, for example, a signal for controlling a conductionstate and a non-conduction state. The signal B may be a digital signalhaving two kinds of potentials, a potential V3 and a potential V4 (whereV3>V4). For example, the potential V3 can be a high power supplypotential and the potential V4 can be a low power supply potential. Thesignal B may be an analog signal.

When both the signal A and the signal B are digital signals, the signalB may be a signal having the same digital value as the signal A. In thatcase, the on-state current of the transistor and the operating speed ofthe circuit including the transistor can be sometimes increased. At thattime, the potentials V1 and V2 of the signal A may be different from thepotentials V3 and V4 of the signal B. For example, when the gateinsulating film for the gate to which the signal B is input is thickerthan the gate insulating film for the gate to which the signal A isinput, the potential amplitude (V3−V4) of the signal B may be higherthan that (V1−V2) of the signal A. In that case, sometimes the signal Aand the signal B can equally affect a conduction state and anon-conduction state of the transistor.

When both the signal A and the signal B are digital signals, the signalB may be a signal having a digital value different from that of thesignal A. In that case, sometimes the transistor can be controlleddifferently with the signal A and the signal B and thus, the transistorcan have high functionality. For example, sometimes a NAND circuit, aNOR circuit, or the like can be formed using one transistor in the casewhere the transistor is an n-channel transistor and the transistor isbrought into conduction only when the signal A has the potential V1 andthe signal B has the potential V3 or the transistor is brought out ofconduction only when the signal A has the potential V2 and the signal Bhas the potential V4. The signal B may be a signal for controlling thethreshold voltage VthA. For example, the signal B may be a signal whosepotential is different between a period when the circuit including thetransistor operates and a period when the circuit does not operate. Thesignal B may be a signal whose potential is different between operationmodes of the circuit. In that case, sometimes the potential of thesignal B is not changed as often as the potential of the signal A.

When both the signal A and the signal B are analog signals, the signal Bmay be an analog signal having the same potential as the signal A; ananalog signal whose potential is a constant times the potential of thesignal A; an analog signal whose potential is the sum of the potentialof the signal A and a constant potential; or an analog signal whosepotential is the remainder of subtracting a constant potential from thepotential of the signal A. In that case, the on-state current of thetransistor and the operating speed of the circuit including thetransistor can be sometimes increased. The signal B may be an analogsignal that is different from the signal A. In that case, sometimes thetransistor can be controlled differently with the signal A and thesignal B and thus, the transistor can have high functionality.

The signal A may be a digital signal and the signal B may be an analogsignal. Alternatively, the signal A may be an analog signal and thesignal B may be a digital signal.

When fixed potentials are applied to the gate electrodes of thetransistor, the transistor can function as an element equivalent to aresistor in some cases. For example, when the transistor is an n-channeltransistor, the effective resistance of the transistor can be sometimeslow (high) by making the fixed potential Va or the fixed potential Vbhigh (low). When both the fixed potential Va and the fixed potential Vbare high (low), the effective resistance can be lower (higher) than thatof a transistor with only one gate in some cases.

Note that the other components of the transistor 100A are similar tothose of the transistor 100 described above, and an effect similar tothat of the transistor 100 can be obtained.

As in the transistor 100A, the conductive film 106 and the opening 143may be provided in the transistor 150 described above. FIGS. 4A to 4Cillustrate an example in this case. FIG. 4A is a top view of atransistor 150A. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along thedashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional viewtaken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG. 4A.

In this manner, the structure of the transistor of one embodiment of thepresent invention can be combined with that of the above-describedtransistor as appropriate.

1-4. Structure Example 4 of Semiconductor Device

A structure of a semiconductor device, which is different from that ofthe semiconductor device illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, is describedwith reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C.

FIG. 5A is a top view of a transistor 100B. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectionalview taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG.5A.

The transistor 100B in FIGS. 5A to 5C is different from the transistor100A described above in the shape of the oxide semiconductor film 112.Specifically, lower end portions of the oxide semiconductor film 112 ofthe transistor 100B are positioned further inward than upper endportions of the insulating film 110. In other words, side end portionsof the insulating film 110 are positioned further outward than side endportions of the oxide semiconductor film 112.

For example, the above structure can be obtained in the followingmanner: after being processed using the same mask, the oxidesemiconductor film 112 and the insulating film 110 are processed by awet etching method and a dry etching method, respectively.

When the oxide semiconductor film 112 has the above structure, regions108 f are formed in the oxide semiconductor film 108 in some cases. Theregions 108 f are formed between the channel region 108 i and the sourceregion 108 s and between the channel region 108 i and the drain region108 d.

The regions 108 f function as high-resistance regions or low-resistanceregions. The high-resistance regions have the same level of resistanceas the channel region 108 i and do not overlap with the oxidesemiconductor film 112 functioning as a gate electrode. In the casewhere the regions 108 f are high-resistance regions, the regions 108 ffunction as offset regions. To suppress a decrease in the on-statecurrent of the transistor 100B, the regions 108 f functioning as offsetregions may each have a length of 1 μm or less in the channel length (L)direction.

The low-resistance regions have a resistance that is lower than that ofthe channel region 108 i and higher than that of the source region 108 sand the drain region 108 d. In the case where the regions 108 f arelow-resistance regions, the regions 108 f function as lightly dopeddrain (LDD) regions. The regions 108 f functioning as LDD regions canrelieve an electric field in a drain region, thereby reducing a changein the threshold voltage of the transistor due to the electric field inthe drain region.

The regions 108 f serving as low-resistance regions are formed by thefollowing method. For example, one or both of hydrogen and nitrogen aresupplied from the insulating film 116 to the regions 108 fAlternatively, an impurity element is added from above the oxidesemiconductor film 112 with the use of the insulating film 110 and theoxide semiconductor film 112 as masks, so that the impurity is added tothe oxide semiconductor film 108 through the insulating film 110.

By changing the shape of the oxide semiconductor film 112 functioning asa second gate electrode, the transistor 150 described above can have astructure similar to that of the transistor 100B. FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate an example in this case. FIG. 6A is a top view of atransistor 150B. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along thedashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional viewtaken along the dashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG. 6A.

1-5. Modification Example 1 of Semiconductor Device

Next, a modification example of the semiconductor device in FIGS. 3A to3C is described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of a transistor 100C. A topview of the transistor 100C is similar to that of the transistor 100B inFIG. 5A and will be described with reference to FIG. 5A. FIG. 7A is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.5A, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 5A.

The transistor 100C is different from the transistor 100B describedabove in that an insulating film 122 functioning as a planarizationinsulating film is provided. Note that the other components of thetransistor 100C are similar to those of the transistor 100B describedabove, and an effect similar to that of the transistor 100B can beobtained.

The insulating film 122 has a function of planarizing unevenness and thelike due to the transistor and the like. The insulating film 122 has aninsulating property and is formed using an inorganic or organicmaterial. Examples of the inorganic material include a silicon oxidefilm, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, a siliconnitride film, an aluminum oxide film, and an aluminum nitride film.Examples of the organic material include photosensitive resin materialssuch as an acrylic resin and a polyimide resin.

Note that the size of each opening in the insulating film 122 is notlimited to that in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in which the openings are smallerthan the openings 141 a and 141 b, and may be larger than or equal tothe size of each of the openings 141 a and 141 b, for example.

In addition, the structure is not limited to the example in FIGS. 7A and7B, in which the conductive films 120 a and 120 b are provided over theinsulating film 122; for example, the insulating film 122 may beprovided over the conductive films 120 a and 120 b formed over theinsulating film 118.

1-6. Modification Example 2 of Semiconductor Device

Next, modification examples of the semiconductor device in FIGS. 1A to1C are described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B and FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of a transistor 100D. A topview of the transistor 100D is similar to that of the transistor 100 inFIG. 1A and will be described with reference to FIG. 1A. FIG. 8A is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.1A, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 1A.

The transistor 100D is different from the transistor 100 described abovein the shape of the insulating film 110. Note that the other componentsof the transistor 100D are similar to those of the transistor 100described above, and an effect similar to that of the transistor 100 canbe obtained.

The insulating film 110 included in the transistor 100D is positionedfurther inward than the oxide semiconductor film 112. In other words,side surfaces of the insulating film 110 are positioned further inwardthan lower end portions of the oxide semiconductor film 112. Forexample, the structure in FIGS. 8A and 8B can be obtained by sideetching of the insulating film 110 with an etchant or the like afterprocessing of the oxide semiconductor film 112. When the insulating film110 has the above structure, hollow regions 147 are formed under theoxide semiconductor film 112

The hollow regions 147 contain air and function as part of a gateinsulating film. Note that the dielectric constant of the hollow regions147 is substantially equal to that of the air, that is, approximately 1.Accordingly, in the case where a voltage is applied to the oxidesemiconductor film 112 functioning as a gate electrode in the structureof the transistor 100D, the voltage applied to the oxide semiconductorfilm 108 under the hollow regions 147 is lower than the voltage appliedto the oxide semiconductor film 108 (the channel region 108 i) under theinsulating film 110. Thus, the oxide semiconductor film 108 under thehollow regions 147 effectively functions as overlap regions (alsoreferred to as Lov regions). The Lov regions in the oxide semiconductorfilm 108 can relieve electric field concentration at the source anddrain edges. Note that the Lov regions overlap with the oxidesemiconductor film 112 functioning as a gate electrode and have lowerresistance than the channel region 108 i.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views of a transistor 100E. A topview of the transistor 100E is similar to that of the transistor 100 inFIG. 1A and will be described with reference to FIG. 1A. FIG. 9A is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.1A, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 1A.

The transistor 100E is different from the transistor 100 described abovein the shapes of the insulating films 110 and 116. Note that the othercomponents of the transistor 100E are similar to those of the transistor100 described above, and an effect similar to that of the transistor 100can be obtained.

The insulating film 110 included in the transistor 100E is positionedfurther inward than the oxide semiconductor film 112. In other words,side surfaces of the insulating film 110 are positioned further inwardthan lower end portions of the oxide semiconductor film 112. Forexample, the structure in FIGS. 9A and 9B can be obtained by sideetching of the insulating film 110 with an etchant or the like afterprocessing of the oxide semiconductor film 112. Furthermore, when theinsulating film 116 is formed after the formation of the insulating film110 having the above structure, the insulating film 116 is also formedunder the oxide semiconductor film 112 and is in contact with the oxidesemiconductor film 108 under the oxide semiconductor film 112.

In the above structure, inner end portions of the source region 108 sand the drain region 108 d are positioned further inward than the lowerend portions of the oxide semiconductor film 112. Thus, the transistor100E includes Lov regions.

In the transistor with the structure including the Lov regions like thetransistors 100D and 100E, no high-resistance region is formed betweenthe channel region 108 i and the source region 108 s or between thechannel region 108 i and the drain region 108 d; accordingly, theon-state current of the transistor can be increased.

1-7. Modification Example 3 of Semiconductor Device

Next, modification examples of the semiconductor device in FIGS. 3A to3C are described with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIGS. 11A and 11B,and FIGS. 12A and 12B.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a transistor 100F. A topview of the transistor 100F is similar to that of the transistor 100A inFIG. 3A and will be described with reference to FIG. 3A. FIG. 10A is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.3A, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 3A.

The transistor 100F is different from the transistor 100B describedabove in the shape of the oxide semiconductor film 108. Note that theother components of the transistor 100F are similar to those of thetransistor 100B described above, and an effect similar to that of thetransistor 100B can be obtained.

The oxide semiconductor film 108 of the transistor 100F includes anoxide semiconductor film 108_1 over the insulating film 116, an oxidesemiconductor film 108_2 over the oxide semiconductor film 108_1, and anoxide semiconductor film 108_3 over the oxide semiconductor film 108_2.

The channel region 108 i, the source region 108 s, and the drain region108 d each have a three-layer structure of the oxide semiconductor films108_1, 108_2, and 108_3.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of a transistor 100G. A topview of the transistor 100G is similar to that of the transistor 100A inFIG. 3A and will be described with reference to FIG. 3A. FIG. 11A is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.3A, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 3A.

The transistor 100G is different from the transistor 100A describedabove in the shape of the oxide semiconductor film 108. Note that theother components of the transistor 100G are similar to those of thetransistor 100A described above, and an effect similar to that of thetransistor 100A can be obtained.

The oxide semiconductor film 108 of the transistor 100G includes theoxide semiconductor film 108_2 over the insulating film 116 and theoxide semiconductor film 108_3 over the oxide semiconductor film 108_2.

The channel region 108 i, the source region 108 s, and the drain region108 d each have a two-layer structure of the oxide semiconductor films108_2 and 108_3.

1-8. Band Structure

Here, a band structure of the insulating film 104, the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1, 108_2, and 108_3, and the insulating film110, and a band structure of the insulating film 104, the oxidesemiconductor films 108_2 and 108_3, and the insulating film 110 aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.

FIG. 12A shows an example of a band structure in the thickness directionof a stack including the insulating film 104, the oxide semiconductorfilms 108_1, 108_2, and 108_3, and the insulating film 110. FIG. 12Bshows an example of a band structure in the thickness direction of astack including the insulating film 104, the oxide semiconductor films108_2 and 108_3, and the insulating film 110. For easy understanding,the band structure shows energy level of the conduction band minimum(Ec) of each of the insulating film 104, the oxide semiconductor films108_1, 108_2, and 108_3, and the insulating film 110.

In the band structure of FIG. 12A, a silicon oxide film is used as eachof the insulating films 104 and 110, an oxide semiconductor film formedusing a metal oxide target having an atomic ratio of metal elements ofIn:Ga:Zn=1:3:2 is used as the oxide semiconductor film 108_1, an oxidesemiconductor film formed using a metal oxide target having an atomicratio of metal elements of In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 is used as the oxidesemiconductor film 108_2, and an oxide semiconductor film formed using ametal oxide target having an atomic ratio of metal elements ofIn:Ga:Zn=1:3:2 is used as the oxide semiconductor film 108_3.

In the band structure of FIG. 12B, a silicon oxide film is used as eachof the insulating films 104 and 110, the oxide semiconductor film formedusing a metal oxide target having an atomic ratio of metal elements ofIn:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 is used as the oxide semiconductor film 108_2, and theoxide semiconductor film formed using a metal oxide target having anatomic ratio of metal elements of In:Ga:Zn=1:3:2 is used as the oxidesemiconductor film 108_3.

As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the energy level of the conduction bandminimum gradually varies between the oxide semiconductor films 108_1,108_2, and 108_3. As illustrated in FIG. 12B, the energy level of theconduction band minimum gradually varies between the oxide semiconductorfilms 108_2 and 108_3. In other words, the energy level of theconduction band minimum is continuously varied or continuouslyconnected. To obtain such a band structure, there exists no impurity,which forms a defect state such as a trap center or a recombinationcenter, at the interface between the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and108_2 and the interface between the oxide semiconductor films 108_2 and108_3.

To form a continuous junction between the oxide semiconductor films108_1, 108_2, and 108_3, it is necessary to form the films successivelywithout exposure to the air by using a multi-chamber depositionapparatus (sputtering apparatus) provided with a load lock chamber.

In each band structure of FIGS. 12A and 12B, the oxide semiconductorfilm 108_2 serves as a well, and a channel region of the transistor withthe stacked-layer structure is formed in the oxide semiconductor film108_2.

By providing the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3, the oxidesemiconductor film 108_2 can be distanced away from trap states.

In addition, the trap states might be more distant from the vacuum levelthan the energy level of the conduction band minimum (Ec) of the oxidesemiconductor film 108_2 functioning as a channel region, so thatelectrons are likely to be accumulated in the trap states. When theelectrons are accumulated in the trap states, the electrons becomenegative fixed electric charge, so that the threshold voltage of thetransistor is shifted in the positive direction. Therefore, it ispreferable that the energy level of the trap states be closer to thevacuum level than the energy level of the conduction band minimum (Ec)of the oxide semiconductor film 108_2. Such a structure inhibitsaccumulation of electrons in the trap states. As a result, the on-statecurrent and the field-effect mobility of the transistor can beincreased.

The energy level of the conduction band minimum of each of the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 is closer to the vacuum level thanthat of the oxide semiconductor film 108_2. Typically, a difference inenergy level between the conduction band minimum of the oxidesemiconductor film 108_2 and the conduction band minimum of each of theoxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 is 0.15 eV or more or 0.5 eVor more and 2 eV or less or 1 eV or less. That is, the differencebetween the electron affinity of each of the oxide semiconductor films108_1 and 108_3 and the electron affinity of the oxide semiconductorfilm 108_2 is 0.15 eV or more or 0.5 eV or more and 2 eV or less or 1 eVor less.

In such a structure, the oxide semiconductor film 108_2 serves as a maincurrent path. In other words, the oxide semiconductor film 108_2functions as a channel region, and the oxide semiconductor films 108_1and 108_3 function as oxide insulating films. The oxide semiconductorfilms 108_1 and 108_3 are each preferably formed using an oxidesemiconductor film containing one or more metal elements constitutingthe oxide semiconductor film 108_2 in which a channel region is formed.In such a structure, interface scattering hardly occurs at the interfacebetween the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_2 and the interfacebetween the oxide semiconductor films 108_2 and 108_3. Thus, thetransistor can have high field-effect mobility because the movement ofcarriers is not hindered at the interface.

To prevent each of the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 fromfunctioning as part of a channel region, a material having sufficientlylow conductivity is used for the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and108_3. Thus, each of the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 canalso be referred to as “oxide insulating film” owing to its physicalproperty and/or function. Alternatively, a material which has a smallerelectron affinity (a difference in energy level between the vacuum leveland the conduction band minimum) than the oxide semiconductor film 108_2and has a difference in energy level in the conduction band minimum fromthe oxide semiconductor film 108_2 (band offset) is used for the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3. Furthermore, to inhibit generationof a difference between threshold voltages due to the value of the drainvoltage, it is preferable to form the oxide semiconductor films 108_1and 108_3 using a material whose energy level of the conduction bandminimum is closer to the vacuum level than that of the oxidesemiconductor film 108_2. For example, a difference between the energylevel of the conduction band minimum of the oxide semiconductor film108_2 and the energy level of the conduction band minimum of each of theoxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 is preferably 0.2 eV or moreand further preferably 0.5 eV or more.

It is preferable that the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 nothave a spinel crystal structure. This is because if the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 have a spinel crystal structure,constituent elements of the conductive films 120 a and 120 b might bediffused to the oxide semiconductor film 108_2 at the interface betweenthe spinel crystal structure and another region. Note that each of theoxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 is preferably a CAAC-OS film,in which case a higher blocking property against constituent elements ofthe conductive films 120 a and 120 b, for example, copper elements canbe obtained.

One embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the exampledescribed in this embodiment, in which an oxide semiconductor filmformed using a metal oxide target having an atomic ratio of metalelements of In:Ga:Zn=1:3:2 is used as each of the oxide semiconductorfilms 108_1 and 108_3; for example, an oxide semiconductor film formedusing a metal oxide target having an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1,In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1.2, In:Ga:Zn=1:3:4, or In:Ga:Zn=1:3:6 may be used as eachof the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3.

When the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 are formed using ametal oxide target having an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1, the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 have an atomic ratio ofIn:Ga:Zn=1:β1 (0<β1≦2):β2 (0<β2≦2) in some cases. When the oxidesemiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 are formed using a metal oxidetarget having an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:3:4, the oxide semiconductorfilms 108_1 and 108_3 have an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:β3 (1≦β3≦5):β4(2≦β4≦6) in some cases. When the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and108_3 are formed using a metal oxide target having an atomic ratio ofIn:Ga:Zn=1:3:6, the oxide semiconductor films 108_1 and 108_3 have anatomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:β5 (1≦β5≦5):β6 (4≦β6≦8) in some cases.

1-9. Method 1 for Manufacturing Semiconductor Device

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the transistor 100illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C is described with reference to FIGS. 13Ato 13D, FIGS. 14A to 14D, and FIGS. 15A to 15C. Note that FIGS. 13A to13D, FIGS. 14A to 14D, and FIGS. 15A to 15C are cross-sectional views inthe channel length (L) direction and the channel width direction (W)illustrating a method for manufacturing the transistor 100.

First, the insulating film 104 is formed over the substrate 102, andthen an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the insulating film 104.Then, the oxide semiconductor film is processed into an island shape,whereby an oxide semiconductor film 107 is formed (see FIG. 13A).

The insulating film 104 can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVDmethod, an evaporation method, a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method, aprinting method, a coating method, or the like as appropriate. In thisembodiment, as the insulating film 104, a 400-nm-thick silicon nitridefilm and a 50-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film are formed with a PECVDapparatus.

After the insulating film 104 is formed, oxygen may be added to theinsulating film 104. Examples of oxygen added to the insulating film 104include an oxygen radical, an oxygen atom, an oxygen atomic ion, and anoxygen molecular ion. As a method for adding the oxygen, an ion dopingmethod, an ion implantation method, plasma treatment, or the like can begiven. Alternatively, after a film that suppresses release of oxygen isformed over the insulating film, oxygen may be added to the insulatingfilm 104 through the film.

The film that suppresses release of oxygen can be formed using any ofthe following conductive materials: a metal element selected fromindium, zinc, gallium, tin, aluminum, chromium, tantalum, titanium,molybdenum, nickel, iron, cobalt, and tungsten; an alloy containing theabove-described metal element as a component; an alloy containing any ofthe above-described metal elements in combination; a metal nitridecontaining the above-described metal element; a metal oxide containingthe above-described metal element; a metal nitride oxide containing theabove-described metal element; and the like.

In the case where oxygen is added by plasma treatment, by making oxygenexcited by a microwave to generate high-density oxygen plasma, theamount of oxygen added to the insulating film 104 can be increased.

The oxide semiconductor film 107 can be formed by a sputtering method, acoating method, a pulsed laser deposition method, a laser ablationmethod, a thermal CVD method, or the like. Note that processing into theoxide semiconductor film 107 can be performed in the following manner: amask is formed over the oxide semiconductor film by a lithographyprocess, and then, the oxide semiconductor film is partly etched usingthe mask. Alternatively, the island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 107may be directly formed by a printing method.

As a power supply device for generating plasma in the case of formingthe oxide semiconductor film by a sputtering method, an RF power supplydevice, an AC power supply device, a DC power supply device, or the likecan be used as appropriate. In the case where the oxide semiconductorfilm is formed by a sputtering method, as a sputtering gas, a rare gas(typically argon), oxygen, or a mixed gas of a rare gas and oxygen isused as appropriate. In the case of using the mixed gas of a rare gasand oxygen, the proportion of oxygen to a rare gas is preferablyincreased.

For example, in the case where the oxide semiconductor film is formed bya sputtering method, the substrate temperature is preferably higher thanor equal to 150° C. and lower than or equal to 750° C., higher than orequal to 150° C. and lower than or equal to 450° C., or higher than orequal to 200° C. and lower than or equal to 350° C., which enablescrystallinity to be improved.

Note that in this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor film 107 is formedas follows. A 40-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film is deposited with asputtering apparatus with the use of an In—Ga—Zn metal oxide(In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1.2 [atomic ratio]) as a sputtering target.

After the oxide semiconductor film 107 is formed, heat treatment may beperformed so that the oxide semiconductor film 107 is subjected todehydrogenation or dehydration. The heat treatment is performedtypically at a temperature higher than or equal to 150° C. and lowerthan the strain point of the substrate, higher than or equal to 250° C.and lower than or equal to 450° C., or higher than or equal to 300° C.and lower than or equal to 450° C.

The heat treatment can be performed under an inert gas atmospherecontaining nitrogen or a rare gas such as helium, neon, argon, xenon, orkrypton. Furthermore, the heat treatment may be performed under an inertgas atmosphere first, and then under an oxygen atmosphere. It ispreferable that the above inert gas atmosphere and the above oxygenatmosphere do not contain hydrogen, water, or the like. The treatmenttime can be from 3 minutes to 24 hours.

An electric furnace, an RTA apparatus, or the like can be used for theheat treatment. With the use of an RTA apparatus, the heat treatment canbe performed at a temperature of higher than or equal to the strainpoint of the substrate if the heating time is short. Therefore, the heattreatment time can be shortened.

By forming the oxide semiconductor film while it is heated or performingheat treatment after the formation of the oxide semiconductor film, thehydrogen concentration in the oxide semiconductor film, which ismeasured by secondary ion mass spectrometry, can be 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³ orlower, 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³ or lower, 5×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³ or lower, 1×10¹⁸atoms/cm³ or lower, 5×10¹⁷ atoms/cm³ or lower, or 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³ orlower.

Next, an insulating film 110_0 is formed over the insulating film 104and the oxide semiconductor film 107 (see FIG. 13B).

As the insulating film 110_0, a silicon oxide film or a siliconoxynitride film can be formed by a PECVD method. In this case, adeposition gas containing silicon and an oxidizing gas are preferablyused as a source gas. Typical examples of the deposition gas containingsilicon include silane, disilane, trisilane, and silane fluoride. As theoxidizing gas, oxygen, ozone, dinitrogen monoxide, and nitrogen dioxidecan be given as examples.

The silicon oxynitride film having a small amount of defects can beformed as the insulating film 110_0 by a PECVD method under theconditions where the flow rate of an oxidizing gas to that of adeposition gas is higher than 20 times and lower than 100 times orhigher than or equal to 40 times and lower than or equal to 80 times andthe pressure in a treatment chamber is lower than 100 Pa or lower thanor equal to 50 Pa.

As the insulating film 110_0, a silicon oxide film or a siliconoxynitride film which is dense can be formed under the followingconditions: the substrate placed in a treatment chamber of a PECVDapparatus that is vacuum-evacuated is held at a temperature of higherthan or equal to 280° C. and lower than or equal to 400° C., thepressure is greater than or equal to 20 Pa and less than or equal to 250Pa, preferably greater than or equal to 100 Pa and less than or equal to250 Pa, with introduction of a source gas into the treatment chamber,and a high-frequency power is supplied to an electrode provided in thetreatment chamber.

The insulating film 110_0 may also be formed by a PECVD method using amicrowave. A microwave refers to a wave in the frequency range of 300MHz to 300 GHz. In a microwave, electron temperature and electron energyare low. Furthermore, in the power supplied in a PECVD apparatus using amicrowave, the proportion of power used for plasma generation, that is,power used for ionization of molecules is high, whereas the proportionof power used for electron acceleration is low. Thus, plasma with highdensity (high-density plasma) can be generated. This method causeslittle plasma damage to the deposition surface or a deposit, so that theinsulating film 110_0 having few defects can be formed.

Alternatively, the insulating film 110_0 can be formed by a CVD methodusing an organosilane gas. As the organosilane gas, any of the followingsilicon-containing compounds can be used: tetraethyl orthosilicate(TEOS) (chemical formula: Si(OC₂H₅)₄); tetramethylsilane (TMS) (chemicalformula: Si(CH₃)₄); tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS);octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS); hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS);triethoxysilane (SiH(OC₂H₅)₃); trisdimethylaminosilane (SiH(N(CH₃)₂)₃);and the like. By a CVD method using the organosilane gas, the insulatingfilm 110_0 having high coverage can be formed.

In this embodiment, a 100-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film is formedwith a PECVD apparatus as the insulating film 110_0.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is formed over the insulatingfilm 110_0. In the formation of the oxide semiconductor film 112_0,oxygen is added from the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 to theinsulating film 110_0 (see FIG. 13C).

The oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is preferably formed by a sputteringmethod in an atmosphere containing an oxygen gas. Since the atmospherein which the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is formed contains an oxygengas, oxygen can be favorably added to the insulating film 110_0.

In FIG. 13C, oxygen added to the insulating film 110_0 is schematicallyshown by arrows. For the oxide semiconductor film 112_0, a materialsimilar to that of the oxide semiconductor film 107 described above canbe used.

In this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is formed asfollows. A 100-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film is deposited with asputtering apparatus with the use of an In—Ga—Zn metal oxide(In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 [atomic ratio]) as a sputtering target.

Next, a mask 140 is formed in a desired position over the oxidesemiconductor film 112_0 by a lithography process (see FIG. 13D).

Next, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 and the insulating film 110_0are processed by etching from above the mask 140, and then, the mask 140is removed, so that the island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 112 andthe island-shaped insulating film 110 are formed (see FIG. 14A).

In this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 and theinsulating film 110_0 are processed by a dry etching method.

In the processing into the oxide semiconductor film 112 and theinsulating film 110, the thickness of the oxide semiconductor film 107in a region not overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film 112 isdecreased in some cases. In other cases, in the processing into theoxide semiconductor film 112 and the insulating film 110, the thicknessof the insulating film 104 in a region not overlapping with the oxidesemiconductor film 107 is decreased.

Next, an impurity element 145 is added from above the insulating film104 and the oxide semiconductor films 107 and 112 (see FIG. 14B).

As a method for adding the impurity element 145, an ion doping method,an ion implantation method, plasma treatment, or the like can be given.In the case of plasma treatment, plasma is generated in a gas atmospherecontaining an impurity element to be added and plasma treatment isperformed, whereby the impurity element can be added. A dry etchingapparatus, an ashing apparatus, a PECVD apparatus, a high-density PECVDapparatus, or the like can be used to generate the plasma.

Note that as a source gas of the impurity element 145, one or more ofB₂H₆, PH₃, CH₄, N₂, NH₃, AlH₃, AlCl₃, SiH₄, Si₂H₆, F₂, HF, H₂, and arare gas (e.g., argon) can be used. Alternatively, one or more of B₂H₆,PH₃, N₂, NH₃, AlH₃, AlCl₃, F₂, HF, and H₂ which are diluted with a raregas can be used. One or more of B₂H₆, PH₃, N₂, NH₃, AlH₃, AlCl₃, F₂, HF,and H₂ which are diluted with a rare gas is used to add the impurityelement 145 to the oxide semiconductor films 107 and 112, whereby one ormore of the rare gas, hydrogen, boron, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine,phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine can be added to the oxide semiconductorfilms 107 and 112.

Alternatively, after being added to the oxide semiconductor films 107and 112 with the use of a rare gas as a source gas, the impurity element145 may be added thereto with the use of one or more of B₂H₆, PH₃, CH₄,N₂, NH₃, AlH₃, AlCl₃, SiH₄, Si₂H₆, F₂, HF, and H₂ as a source gas.

Alternatively, after being added to the oxide semiconductor films 107and 112 with the use of one or more of B₂H₆, PH₃, CH₄, N₂, NH₃, AlH₃,AlCl₃, SiH₄, Si₂H₆, F₂, HF, and H₂ as a source gas, the impurity element145 may be added thereto with the use of a rare gas as a source gas.

The addition of the impurity element 145 is controlled by appropriatelysetting the implantation conditions such as the acceleration voltage andthe dose. For example, in the case where argon is added by an ionimplantation method, the acceleration voltage may be set to be higherthan or equal to 10 kV and lower than or equal to 100 kV and the dosemay be set to be greater than or equal to 1×10¹³ ions/cm² and less thanor equal to 1×10¹⁶ ions/cm², for example, 1×10¹⁴ ions/cm². In the casewhere a phosphorus ion is added by an ion implantation method, theacceleration voltage is set to 30 kV and the dose is set to be greaterthan or equal to 1×10¹³ ions/cm² and less than or equal to 5×10¹⁶ions/cm², for example, 1×10¹⁵ ions/cm².

One embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the exampledescribed in this embodiment, in which the impurity element 145 is addedafter the mask 140 is removed; for example, the impurity element 145 maybe added with the mask 140 left.

In this embodiment, argon is added to the oxide semiconductor films 107and 112 as the impurity element 145 with a doping apparatus. Note thatone embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the exampledescribed in this embodiment, in which the impurity element 145 isadded; for example, the step of adding the impurity element 145 is notnecessarily performed.

Next, the insulating film 116 is formed over the insulating film 104 andthe oxide semiconductor films 107 and 112. Note that the oxidesemiconductor film 107 is in contact with the insulating film 116 byformation of the insulating film 116 and serves as the source region 108s and the drain region 108 d. The oxide semiconductor film 107 which isnot in contact with the insulating film 116, i.e., the oxidesemiconductor film 107 in contact with the insulating film 110 serves asthe channel region 108 i. Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor film 108including the channel region 108 i, the source region 108 s, and thedrain region 108 d is formed (see FIG. 14C).

The insulating film 116 can be formed using a material selected from theabove-described materials. In this embodiment, a 100-nm-thick siliconnitride film is formed with a PECVD apparatus as the insulating film116.

With the silicon nitride film used as the insulating film 116, hydrogenin the silicon nitride film enters the oxide semiconductor film 112, thesource region 108 s, and the drain region 108 d in contact with theinsulating film 116; consequently, the carrier densities in the oxidesemiconductor film 112, the source region 108 s, and the drain region108 d can be increased.

Next, the insulating film 118 is formed over the insulating film 116(see FIG. 14D).

The insulating film 118 can be formed using a material selected from theabove-described materials. In this embodiment, a 300-nm-thick siliconoxynitride film is formed with a PECVD apparatus as the insulating film118.

Next, a mask is formed in a desired position over the insulating film118 by a lithography process, and then the insulating films 118 and 116are partly etched, whereby the opening 141 a and the opening 141 b thatreach the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d, respectively,are formed (see FIG. 15A).

As a method for etching the insulating films 118 and 116, a wet etchingmethod and/or a dry etching method can be used as appropriate. In thisembodiment, processing into the insulating films 118 and 116 isperformed by a dry etching method.

Then, a conductive film 120 is formed over the insulating film 118 tocover the openings 141 a and 141 b (see FIG. 15B).

The conductive film 120 can be formed using the material that can beused for the conductive films 120 a and 120 b. In this embodiment, astacked-layer film including a 50-nm-thick titanium film, a 400-nm-thickaluminum film, and a 100-nm-thick titanium film is formed with asputtering apparatus as the conductive film 120.

Next, a mask is formed in a desired position over the conductive film120 by a lithography process, and then the conductive film 120 is partlyetched, whereby the conductive films 120 a and 120 b are formed (seeFIG. 15C).

As a method for processing the conductive film 120, a wet etching methodand/or a dry etching method can be used as appropriate. In thisembodiment, the conductive film 120 is processed by a dry etching methodto form the conductive films 120 a and 120 b.

Through the above-described steps, the transistor 100 illustrated inFIGS. 1A to 1C can be manufactured.

Note that the films included in the transistor 100 (i.e., the insulatingfilm, the oxide semiconductor film, the conductive film, and the like)can be formed by any of a sputtering method, a chemical vapor deposition(CVD) method, a vacuum evaporation method, a pulsed laser deposition(PLD) method, and an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.Alternatively, a coating method or a printing method can be used.Although the sputtering method and a plasma-enhanced chemical vapordeposition (PECVD) method are typical examples of the film formationmethod, a thermal CVD method may be used. As the thermal CVD method, ametal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method may be used, forexample.

Deposition by the thermal CVD method is performed in such a manner thatthe pressure in a chamber is set to an atmospheric pressure or a reducedpressure, and a source gas and an oxidizer are supplied to the chamberat a time and react with each other in the vicinity of the substrate orover the substrate. Thus, no plasma is generated in the deposition;therefore, the thermal CVD method has an advantage that no defect due toplasma damage is caused.

Deposition by an ALD method is performed in the following manner: asource gas for reaction is introduced into a chamber in which thepressure is set to an atmospheric pressure or a reduced pressure, and areaction is caused; then, this sequence is repeated. An inert gas (e.g.,argon or nitrogen) may be introduced as a carrier gas with the sourcegases. For example, two or more kinds of source gases may besequentially supplied to the chamber. In this case, an inert gas isintroduced between reaction of a first source gas and introduction of asecond source gas to prevent the source gases from being mixed.Alternatively, the first source gas may be exhausted by vacuumevacuation instead of the introduction of the inert gas, and then thesecond source gas may be introduced. The first source gas is adsorbed onthe surface of the substrate and a reaction is caused to form a firstlayer, and then, the second source gas is introduced and adsorbed and areaction is caused to form a second layer over the first layer; in thismanner, a thin film is formed. The sequence of the gas introduction isrepeated plural times until a desired thickness is obtained, whereby athin film with excellent step coverage can be formed. The thickness ofthe thin film can be precisely adjusted by the number of times the gasintroduction is repeated; therefore, an ALD method is suitable formanufacturing a minute FET.

The films such as the conductive films, the insulating films, and theoxide semiconductor films which are described above can be formed by athermal CVD method such as an MOCVD method. For example, in the casewhere an In—Ga—Zn—O film is formed, trimethylindium (In(CH₃)₃),trimethylgallium (Ga(CH₃)₃), and dimethylzinc (Zn(CH₃)₂) are used.Without limitation to the above combination, triethylgallium (Ga(C₂H₅)₃)can be used instead of trimethylgallium, and diethylzinc (Zn(C₂H₅)₂) canbe used instead of dimethylzinc.

For example, in the case where a hafnium oxide film is formed by adeposition apparatus using an ALD method, two kinds of gases, i.e.,ozone (O₃) as an oxidizer and a source gas which is obtained byvaporizing liquid containing a solvent and a hafnium precursor (e.g., ahafnium alkoxide or a hafnium amide such astetrakis(dimethylamide)hafnium (TDMAH, Hf[N(CH₃)₂]₄) andtetrakis(ethylmethylamide)hafnium) are used.

For example, in the case where an aluminum oxide film is formed by adeposition apparatus using an ALD method, two kinds of gases, i.e., H₂Oas an oxidizer and a source gas which is obtained by vaporizing liquidcontaining a solvent and an aluminum precursor (e.g., trimethylaluminum(TMA, Al(CH₃)₃)) are used. Examples of another material includetris(dimethylamide)aluminum, triisobutylaluminum, and aluminumtris(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate).

For example, in the case where a silicon oxide film is formed by adeposition apparatus using an ALD method, hexachlorodisilane is adsorbedon a surface where a film is to be formed, and radicals of an oxidizinggas (e.g., O₂ or dinitrogen monoxide) are supplied to react with theadsorbate.

For example, in the case where a tungsten film is formed with adeposition apparatus using an ALD method, a WF₆ gas and a B₂H₆ gas aresequentially introduced to form an initial tungsten film, and then atungsten film is formed using a WF₆ gas and an H₂ gas. Note that an SiH₄gas may be used instead of a B₂H₆ gas.

For example, in the case where an oxide semiconductor film, for example,an In—Ga—Zn—O film is formed with a deposition apparatus using an ALDmethod, an In(CH₃)₃ gas and an O₃ gas are used to form an In—O layer, aGa—O layer is formed using a Ga(CH₃)₃ gas and an O₃ gas, and then a Zn—Olayer is formed using a Zn(CH₃)₂ gas and an O₃ gas. Note that the orderof these layers is not limited to this example. A mixed compound layersuch as an In—Ga—O layer, an In—Zn—O layer, or a Ga—Zn—O layer may beformed by using these gases. Note that although an H₂O gas which isobtained by bubbling water with an inert gas such as Ar may be usedinstead of an O₃ gas, it is preferable to use an O₃ gas, which does notcontain H.

1-10. Method 2 for Manufacturing Semiconductor Device

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the transistor 100Cillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B is described with reference to FIGS. 16Ato 16D, FIGS. 17A to 17D, FIGS. 18A to 18D, and FIGS. 19A and 19B. Notethat FIGS. 16A to 16D, FIGS. 17A to 17D, FIGS. 18A to 18D, and FIGS. 19Aand 19B are cross-sectional views in the channel length (L) directionand the channel width direction (W) illustrating a method formanufacturing the transistor 100C.

First, the conductive film 106 is formed over the substrate 102. Then,the insulating film 104 is formed over the substrate 102 and theconductive film 106, and then an oxide semiconductor film is formed overthe insulating film 104. After that, the oxide semiconductor film isprocessed into an island shape, whereby the oxide semiconductor film 107is formed (see FIG. 16A).

The conductive film 106 can be formed using a material and a methodwhich are similar to those of the oxide semiconductor film 112 or theconductive films 120 a and 120 b. In this embodiment, a 100-nm-thicktungsten film is formed by a sputtering method as the conductive film106.

Next, the insulating film 110_0 is formed over the insulating film 104and the oxide semiconductor film 107 (see FIG. 16B).

Next, a mask is formed in a desired position over the insulating film110_0 by a lithography process, and then the insulating films 110_0 and104 are partly etched, whereby the opening 143 that reaches theconductive film 106 is formed (see FIG. 16C).

As a method for forming the opening 143, a wet etching method and/or adry etching method can be used as appropriate. In this embodiment, theopening 143 is formed by a dry etching method.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is formed over the insulatingfilm 110_0 to cover the opening 143. In the formation of the oxidesemiconductor film 112_0, oxygen in the oxide semiconductor film 112_0is added to the insulating film 110_0 (see FIG. 16D).

In FIG. 16D, oxygen added to the insulating film 110_0 is schematicallyshown by arrows. Furthermore, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 formedto cover the opening 143 is electrically connected to the conductivefilm 106.

Next, the mask 140 is formed in a desired position over the oxidesemiconductor film 112_0 by a lithography process (see FIG. 17A).

Then, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is processed into theisland-shaped oxide semiconductor film 112 by etching from above themask 140 (see FIG. 17B).

In this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0 is processed by awet etching method.

In succession to the above step, the insulating film 110_0 is processedinto the island-shaped insulating film 110 by etching from above themask 140 (see FIG. 17C).

In this embodiment, the insulating film 110_0 is processed by a dryetching method.

Next, the impurity element 145 is added from above the insulating film104 and the oxide semiconductor films 107 and 112 after the mask 140 isremoved (see FIG. 17D).

In the addition of the impurity element 145, a large number ofimpurities are added to the regions in which the surface of the oxidesemiconductor film 107 is exposed (regions to be the source region 108 sand the drain region 108 d). In contrast, since the impurity element 145is added to regions of the oxide semiconductor film 107 which do notoverlap with the oxide semiconductor film 112 but overlap with theinsulating film 110 (regions to be the regions 1080 through theinsulating film 110, the amount of the added impurity element 145 issmaller than that in the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d.

In this embodiment, argon is added to the oxide semiconductor films 107and 112 as the impurity element 145 with a doping apparatus.

Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to theexample described in this embodiment, in which argon is added as theimpurity element 145; for example, the step of adding the impurityelement 145 is not necessarily performed. In the case where the step ofadding the impurity element 145 is not performed, the regions 108 f havethe same level of impurity concentration as the channel region 108 i.

Next, the insulating film 116 is formed over the insulating film 104,the oxide semiconductor film 107, the insulating film 110, and the oxidesemiconductor film 112. Note that the oxide semiconductor film 107 is incontact with the insulating film 116 by formation of the insulating film116 and serves as the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d.The oxide semiconductor film 107 which is not in contact with theinsulating film 116, i.e., the oxide semiconductor film 107 in contactwith the insulating film 110 serves as the channel region 108 i.

Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor film 108 including the channelregion 108 i, the source region 108 s, and the drain region 108 d isformed (see FIG. 18A).

The regions 108 f are formed between the channel region 108 i and thesource region 108 s and between the channel region 108 i and the drainregion 108 d.

Next, the insulating film 118 is formed over the insulating film 116(see FIG. 18B).

Next, a mask is formed in a desired position over the insulating film118 by a lithography process, and then the insulating films 118 and 116are partly etched, whereby the opening 141 a and the opening 141 b thatreach the source region 108 s and the drain region 108 d, respectively,are formed (see FIG. 18C).

Next, the insulating film 122 is formed over the insulating film 118(see FIG. 18D).

Note that the insulating film 122 functions as a planarizationinsulating film. Furthermore, the insulating film 122 has openings inpositions overlapping with the opening 141 a and the opening 141 b.

In this embodiment, the insulating film 122 having the openings isformed in the following manner: a photosensitive acrylic-based resin isapplied with a spin coater, and then, desired regions of thephotosensitive acrylic-based resin are exposed to light.

Then, the conductive film 120 is formed over the insulating film 122 tocover the openings 141 a and 141 b (see FIG. 19A).

Next, a mask is formed in a desired position over the conductive film120 by a lithography process, and then the conductive film 120 is partlyetched, whereby the conductive films 120 a and 120 b are formed (seeFIG. 19B).

In this embodiment, processing into the conductive film 120 is performedby a dry etching method. In some cases, an upper portion of theinsulating film 122 is partly removed when the conductive film 120 isprocessed.

Through the above-described steps, the transistor 100C illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B can be manufactured.

In the manufacture of the transistor 100C, the description in <1-9.Method 1 for manufacturing semiconductor device> can be referred to forthe insulating film 104, the oxide semiconductor film 107, theinsulating film 110_0, the oxide semiconductor film 112_0, the impurityelement 145, the insulating films 116 and 118, the openings 141 a and141 b, and the conductive film 120.

Although an example in which the transistor includes the oxidesemiconductor film is shown in this embodiment, one embodiment of thepresent invention is not limited thereto. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the transistor does not necessarily include the oxidesemiconductor film. For example, the channel region, the vicinity of thechannel region, the source region, or the drain region of the transistormay be formed using a material containing Si (silicon), Ge (germanium),SiGe (silicon germanium), GaAs (gallium arsenide), or the like.

The structure and method described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures and methods described inthe other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, a structure of an oxide semiconductor and the likeare described with reference to FIGS. 20A to 20E, FIGS. 21A to 21E,FIGS. 22A to 22D, FIGS. 23A and 23B, and FIG. 24.

<2-1. Structure of Oxide Semiconductor>

An oxide semiconductor is classified into a single crystal oxidesemiconductor and a non-single-crystal oxide semiconductor. Examples ofa non-single-crystal oxide semiconductor include a c-axis alignedcrystalline oxide semiconductor (CAAC-OS), a polycrystalline oxidesemiconductor, a nanocrystalline oxide semiconductor (nc-OS), anamorphous-like oxide semiconductor (a-like OS), and an amorphous oxidesemiconductor.

From another perspective, an oxide semiconductor is classified into anamorphous oxide semiconductor and a crystalline oxide semiconductor.Examples of a crystalline oxide semiconductor include a single crystaloxide semiconductor, a CAAC-OS, a polycrystalline oxide semiconductor,and an nc-OS.

An amorphous structure is generally thought to be isotropic and have nonon-uniform structure, to be metastable and not have fixed positions ofatoms, to have a flexible bond angle, and to have a short-range orderbut have no long-range order, for example.

This means that a stable oxide semiconductor cannot be regarded as acompletely amorphous oxide semiconductor. Moreover, an oxidesemiconductor that is not isotropic (e.g., an oxide semiconductor thathas a periodic structure in a microscopic region) cannot be regarded asa completely amorphous oxide semiconductor. In contrast, an a-like OS,which is not isotropic, has an unstable structure that contains a void.Because of its instability, an a-like OS has physical properties similarto those of an amorphous oxide semiconductor.

<2-2. CAAC-OS>

First, a CAAC-OS is described.

A CAAC-OS is one of oxide semiconductors having a plurality of c-axisaligned crystal parts (also referred to as pellets).

Analysis of a CAAC-OS by X-ray diffraction (XRD) is described. Forexample, when the structure of a CAAC-OS including an InGaZnO₄ crystalthat is classified into the space group R-3m is analyzed by anout-of-plane method, a peak appears at a diffraction angle (2θ) ofaround 31° as shown in FIG. 20A. This peak is derived from the (009)plane of the InGaZnO₄ crystal, which indicates that crystals in theCAAC-OS have c-axis alignment, and that the c-axes are aligned in adirection substantially perpendicular to a surface over which theCAAC-OS film is formed (also referred to as a formation surface) or thetop surface of the CAAC-OS film. Note that a peak sometimes appears at a2θ of around 36° in addition to the peak at a 2θ of around 31°. The peakat a 2θ of around 36° is derived from a crystal structure that isclassified into the space group Fd-3m; thus, this peak is preferably notexhibited in a CAAC-OS.

On the other hand, in structural analysis of the CAAC-OS by an in-planemethod in which an X-ray is incident on the CAAC-OS in a directionparallel to the formation surface, a peak appears at a 2θ of around 56°.This peak is attributed to the (110) plane of the InGaZnO₄ crystal. Whenanalysis (φ scan) is performed with 2θ fixed at around 56° and with thesample rotated using a normal vector to the sample surface as an axis (0axis), as shown in FIG. 20B, a peak is not clearly observed. Incontrast, in the case where single crystal InGaZnO₄ is subjected to φscan with 2θ fixed at around 56°, as shown in FIG. 20C, six peaks whichare derived from crystal planes equivalent to the (110) plane areobserved. Accordingly, the structural analysis using XRD shows that thedirections of a-axes and b-axes are irregularly oriented in the CAAC-OS.

Next, a CAAC-OS analyzed by electron diffraction is described. Forexample, when an electron beam with a probe diameter of 300 nm isincident on a CAAC-OS including an InGaZnO₄ crystal in a directionparallel to the formation surface of the CAAC-OS, a diffraction pattern(also referred to as a selected-area electron diffraction pattern) shownin FIG. 20D can be obtained. In this diffraction pattern, spots derivedfrom the (009) plane of an InGaZnO₄ crystal are included. Thus, theelectron diffraction also indicates that pellets included in the CAAC-OShave c-axis alignment and that the c-axes are aligned in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the formation surface or the top surfaceof the CAAC-OS. Meanwhile, FIG. 20E shows a diffraction pattern obtainedin such a manner that an electron beam with a probe diameter of 300 nmis incident on the same sample in a direction perpendicular to thesample surface. As shown in FIG. 20E, a ring-like diffraction pattern isobserved. Thus, the electron diffraction using an electron beam with aprobe diameter of 300 nm also indicates that the a-axes and b-axes ofthe pellets included in the CAAC-OS do not have regular orientation. Thefirst ring in FIG. 20E is considered to be derived from the (010) plane,the (100) plane, and the like of the InGaZnO₄ crystal. The second ringin FIG. 20E is considered to be derived from the (110) plane and thelike.

In a combined analysis image (also referred to as a high-resolution TEMimage) of a bright-field image and a diffraction pattern of a CAAC-OS,which is obtained using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), aplurality of pellets can be observed. However, even in thehigh-resolution TEM image, a boundary between pellets, that is, a grainboundary is not clearly observed in some cases. Thus, in the CAAC-OS, areduction in electron mobility due to the grain boundary is less likelyto occur.

FIG. 21A shows a high-resolution TEM image of a cross section of theCAAC-OS which is observed from a direction substantially parallel to thesample surface. The high-resolution TEM image is obtained with aspherical aberration corrector function. The high-resolution TEM imageobtained with a spherical aberration corrector function is particularlyreferred to as a Cs-corrected high-resolution TEM image. TheCs-corrected high-resolution TEM image can be observed with, forexample, an atomic resolution analytical electron microscope JEM-ARM200Fmanufactured by JEOL Ltd.

FIG. 21A shows pellets in which metal atoms are arranged in a layeredmanner. FIG. 21A proves that the size of a pellet is greater than orequal to 1 nm or greater than or equal to 3 nm. Therefore, the pelletcan also be referred to as a nanocrystal (nc). Furthermore, the CAAC-OScan also be referred to as an oxide semiconductor including c-axisaligned nanocrystals (CANC). A pellet reflects unevenness of a formationsurface or a top surface of the CAAC-OS, and is parallel to theformation surface or the top surface of the CAAC-OS.

FIGS. 21B and 21C show Cs-corrected high-resolution TEM images of aplane of the CAAC-OS observed from a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the sample surface. FIGS. 21D and 21E are imagesobtained through image processing of FIGS. 21B and 21C. The method ofimage processing is as follows. The image in FIG. 21B is subjected tofast Fourier transform (FFT), so that an FFT image is obtained. Then,mask processing is performed such that a range of from 2.8 nm⁻¹ to 5.0nm⁻¹ from the origin in the obtained FFT image remains. After the maskprocessing, the FFT image is processed by inverse fast Fourier transform(IFFT) to obtain a processed image. The image obtained in this manner iscalled an FFT filtering image. The FFT filtering image is a Cs-correctedhigh-resolution TEM image from which a periodic component is extracted,and shows a lattice arrangement.

In FIG. 21D, a portion where a lattice arrangement is broken is denotedwith a dashed line. A region surrounded by a dashed line is one pellet.The portion denoted with the dashed line is a junction of pellets. Thedashed line draws a hexagon, which means that the pellet has a hexagonalshape. Note that the shape of the pellet is not always a regular hexagonbut is a non-regular hexagon in many cases.

In FIG. 21E, a dotted line denotes a boundary between a region with aregular lattice arrangement and another region with a regular latticearrangement. No clear crystal grain boundary can be observed even in thevicinity of the dotted line. When lattice points around a lattice pointin the vicinity of the dotted line are joined, a distorted hexagon canbe formed. That is, a lattice arrangement is distorted so that formationof a crystal grain boundary is inhibited. This is probably because thefollowing features of the CAAC-OS can allow distortion: a low density ofthe atomic arrangement in the a-b plane direction, an interatomic bonddistance changed by substitution of a metal element, and the like.

In the above-described manner, the CAAC-OS has c-axis alignment, itspellets (nanocrystals) are connected in an a-b plane direction, and thecrystal structure has distortion. For this reason, the CAAC-OS can alsobe referred to as an oxide semiconductor including a c-axis-aligneda-b-plane-anchored (CAA) crystal.

The CAAC-OS is an oxide semiconductor with high crystallinity. Entry ofimpurities, formation of defects, or the like might decrease thecrystallinity of an oxide semiconductor. This means that the CAAC-OS hassmall amounts of impurities and defects (e.g., oxygen vacancies).

Note that the impurity means an element other than the main componentsof the oxide semiconductor, such as hydrogen, carbon, silicon, or atransition metal element. For example, an element (specifically, siliconor the like) having higher strength of bonding to oxygen than a metalelement included in an oxide semiconductor extracts oxygen from theoxide semiconductor, which results in disorder of the atomic arrangementand reduced crystallinity of the oxide semiconductor. A heavy metal suchas iron or nickel, argon, carbon dioxide, or the like has a large atomicradius (or molecular radius), and thus disturbs the atomic arrangementof the oxide semiconductor and decreases crystallinity.

The characteristics of an oxide semiconductor having impurities ordefects might be changed by light, heat, or the like. Impuritiescontained in the oxide semiconductor might serve as carrier traps orcarrier generation sources, for example. For example, an oxygen vacancyin the oxide semiconductor might serve as a carrier trap or serve as acarrier generation source when hydrogen is captured therein.

The CAAC-OS having small amounts of impurities and oxygen vacancies isan oxide semiconductor with low carrier density (specifically, lowerthan 8×10¹¹/cm³, preferably lower than 1×10¹¹/cm³, and furtherpreferably lower than 1×10¹⁰/cm³, and is higher than or equal to1×10⁻⁹/cm³). Such an oxide semiconductor is referred to as a highlypurified intrinsic or substantially highly purified intrinsic oxidesemiconductor. A CAAC-OS has a low impurity concentration and a lowdensity of defect states. Thus, the CAAC-OS can be referred to as anoxide semiconductor having stable characteristics.

<2-3. nc-OS>

Next, an nc-OS is described.

Analysis of an nc-OS by XRD is described. When the structure of an nc-OSis analyzed by an out-of-plane method, a peak indicating orientationdoes not appear. That is, a crystal of an nc-OS does not haveorientation.

For example, when an electron beam with a probe diameter of 50 nm isincident on a 34-nm-thick region of thinned nc-OS including an InGaZnO₄crystal in a direction parallel to the formation surface, a ring-shapeddiffraction pattern (a nanobeam electron diffraction pattern) shown inFIG. 22A is observed. FIG. 22B shows a diffraction pattern obtained whenan electron beam with a probe diameter of 1 nm is incident on the samesample. As shown in FIG. 22B, a plurality of spots are observed in aring-like region. In other words, ordering in an nc-OS is not observedwith an electron beam with a probe diameter of 50 nm but is observedwith an electron beam with a probe diameter of 1 nm.

Furthermore, an electron diffraction pattern in which spots are arrangedin an approximately hexagonal shape is observed in some cases as shownin FIG. 22C when an electron beam having a probe diameter of 1 nm isincident on a region with a thickness of less than 10 nm. This meansthat an nc-OS has a well-ordered region, i.e., a crystal, in the rangeof less than 10 nm in thickness. Note that an electron diffractionpattern having regularity is not observed in some regions becausecrystals are aligned in various directions.

FIG. 22D shows a Cs-corrected high-resolution TEM image of a crosssection of an nc-OS observed from the direction substantially parallelto the formation surface. In a high-resolution TEM image, an nc-OS has aregion in which a crystal part is observed, such as the part indicatedby additional lines in FIG. 22D, and a region in which a crystal part isnot clearly observed. In most cases, the size of a crystal part includedin the nc-OS is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to10 nm, in particular, greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than orequal to 3 nm. Note that an oxide semiconductor including a crystal partwhose size is greater than 10 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm issometimes referred to as a microcrystalline oxide semiconductor. In ahigh-resolution TEM image of the nc-OS, for example, a grain boundary isnot clearly observed in some cases. Note that there is a possibilitythat the origin of the nanocrystal is the same as that of a pellet in aCAAC-OS. Therefore, a crystal part of the nc-OS may be referred to as apellet in the following description.

In the above-described manner, in the nc-OS, a microscopic region (e.g.,a region with a size greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than orequal to 10 nm, in particular, a region with a size greater than orequal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 3 nm) has a periodic atomicarrangement. There is no regularity of crystal orientation betweendifferent pellets in the nc-OS. Thus, the orientation of the whole filmis not ordered. Accordingly, the nc-OS cannot be distinguished from ana-like OS or an amorphous oxide semiconductor, depending on an analysismethod.

Since there is no regularity of crystal orientation between the pellets(nanocrystals) as mentioned above, the nc-OS can also be referred to asan oxide semiconductor including random aligned nanocrystals (RANC) oran oxide semiconductor including non-aligned nanocrystals (NANC).

The nc-OS is an oxide semiconductor that has high regularity as comparedto an amorphous oxide semiconductor. Therefore, the nc-OS is likely tohave a lower density of defect states than an a-like OS and an amorphousoxide semiconductor. Note that there is no regularity of crystalorientation between different pellets in the nc-OS. Therefore, the nc-OShas a higher density of defect states than the CAAC-OS.

<2-4. a-Like OS>

An a-like OS has a structure intermediate between those of the nc-OS andthe amorphous oxide semiconductor.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are high-resolution cross-sectional TEM images of ana-like OS. FIG. 23A is the high-resolution cross-sectional TEM image ofthe a-like OS at the start of the electron irradiation. FIG. 23B is thehigh-resolution cross-sectional TEM image of a-like OS after theelectron (e) irradiation at 4.3×10⁸ e⁻/nm². FIGS. 23A and 23B show thatstripe-like bright regions extending vertically are observed in thea-like OS from the start of the electron irradiation. It can be alsofound that the shape of the bright region changes after the electronirradiation. Note that the bright region is presumably a void or alow-density region.

The a-like OS has an unstable structure because it contains a void. Toverify that an a-like OS has an unstable structure as compared to aCAAC-OS and an nc-OS, a change in structure caused by electronirradiation is described below.

An a-like OS, an nc-OS, and a CAAC-OS are prepared as samples. Each ofthe samples is an In—Ga—Zn oxide.

First, a high-resolution cross-sectional TEM image of each sample isobtained. The high-resolution cross-sectional TEM images show that allthe samples have crystal parts.

It is known that a unit cell of an InGaZnO₄ crystal has a structure inwhich nine layers including three In—O layers and six Ga—Zn—O layers arestacked in the c-axis direction. The distance between the adjacentlayers is equivalent to the lattice spacing on the (009) plane (alsoreferred to as d value). The value is calculated to be 0.29 nm fromcrystal structural analysis. Accordingly, a portion where the spacingbetween lattice fringes is greater than or equal to 0.28 nm and lessthan or equal to 0.30 nm is regarded as a crystal part of InGaZnO₄ inthe following description. Each of lattice fringes corresponds to thea-b plane of the InGaZnO₄ crystal.

FIG. 24 shows change in the average size of crystal parts (at 22 pointsto 30 points) in each sample. Note that the crystal part sizecorresponds to the length of a lattice fringe. FIG. 24 indicates thatthe crystal part size in the a-like OS increases with an increase in thecumulative electron dose in obtaining TEM images, for example. As shownin FIG. 24, a crystal part of approximately 1.2 nm (also referred to asan initial nucleus) at the start of TEM observation grows to a size ofapproximately 1.9 nm at a cumulative electron (e) dose of 4.2×10⁸e⁻/nm². In contrast, the crystal part size in the nc-OS and the CAAC-OSshows little change from the start of electron irradiation to acumulative electron dose of 4.2×10⁸ e/nm². As shown in FIG. 24, thecrystal part sizes in an nc-OS and a CAAC-OS are approximately 1.3 nmand approximately 1.8 nm, respectively, regardless of the cumulativeelectron dose. For the electron beam irradiation and TEM observation, aHitachi H-9000NAR transmission electron microscope was used. Theconditions of electron beam irradiation were as follows: theaccelerating voltage was 300 kV; the current density was 6.7×10⁵e⁻/(nm²·s); and the diameter of irradiation region was 230 nm.

In this manner, growth of the crystal part in the a-like OS is sometimesinduced by electron irradiation. In contrast, in the nc-OS and theCAAC-OS, growth of the crystal part is hardly induced by electronirradiation. Therefore, the a-like OS has an unstable structure ascompared to the nc-OS and the CAAC-OS.

The a-like OS has a lower density than the nc-OS and the CAAC-OS becauseit contains a void. Specifically, the density of the a-like OS is higherthan or equal to 78.6% and lower than 92.3% of the density of the singlecrystal oxide semiconductor having the same composition. The density ofeach of the nc-OS and the CAAC-OS is higher than or equal to 92.3% andlower than 100% of the density of the single crystal oxide semiconductorhaving the same composition. Note that it is difficult to deposit anoxide semiconductor having a density of lower than 78% of the density ofthe single crystal oxide semiconductor.

For example, in the case of an oxide semiconductor having an atomicratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1, the density of single crystal InGaZnO₄ with arhombohedral crystal structure is 6.357 g/cm³. Accordingly, in the caseof the oxide semiconductor having an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1, thedensity of the a-like OS is higher than or equal to 5.0 g/cm³ and lowerthan 5.9 g/cm³. For example, in the case of the oxide semiconductorhaving an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1, the density of each of thenc-OS and the CAAC-OS is higher than or equal to 5.9 g/cm³ and lowerthan 6.3 g/cm³.

Note that in the case where an oxide semiconductor having a certaincomposition does not exist in a single crystal structure, single crystaloxide semiconductors with different compositions are combined at anadequate ratio, which makes it possible to calculate density equivalentto that of a single crystal oxide semiconductor with the desiredcomposition. The density of a single crystal oxide semiconductor havingthe desired composition can be calculated using a weighted averageaccording to the combination ratio of the single crystal oxidesemiconductors with different compositions. Note that it is preferableto use as few kinds of single crystal oxide semiconductors as possibleto calculate the density.

In the above-described manner, oxide semiconductors have variousstructures and various properties. Note that an oxide semiconductor maybe a stacked-layer film including two or more films of an amorphousoxide semiconductor, an a-like OS, an nc-OS, and a CAAC-OS, for example.

The structure described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures described in the otherembodiments and examples.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, an example of a display device that includes any ofthe transistors described in the above embodiment is described belowwith reference to FIGS. 25, 26, and 27.

FIG. 25 is a top view of an example of a display device. A displaydevice 700 illustrated in FIG. 25 includes a pixel portion 702 providedover a first substrate 701; a source driver circuit portion 704 and agate driver circuit portion 706 provided over the first substrate 701; asealant 712 provided to surround the pixel portion 702, the sourcedriver circuit portion 704, and the gate driver circuit portion 706; anda second substrate 705 provided to face the first substrate 701. Thefirst substrate 701 and the second substrate 705 are sealed with thesealant 712. That is, the pixel portion 702, the source driver circuitportion 704, and the gate driver circuit portion 706 are sealed with thefirst substrate 701, the sealant 712, and the second substrate 705.Although not illustrated in FIG. 25, a display element is providedbetween the first substrate 701 and the second substrate 705.

In the display device 700, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) terminalportion 708 electrically connected to the pixel portion 702, the sourcedriver circuit portion 704, and the gate driver circuit portion 706 isprovided in a region different from the region which is surrounded bythe sealant 712 and positioned over the first substrate 701.Furthermore, an FPC 716 is connected to the FPC terminal portion 708,and a variety of signals and the like are supplied to the pixel portion702, the source driver circuit portion 704, and the gate driver circuitportion 706 through the FPC 716. Furthermore, a signal line 710 isconnected to the pixel portion 702, the source driver circuit portion704, the gate driver circuit portion 706, and the FPC terminal portion708. Various signals and the like are applied to the pixel portion 702,the source driver circuit portion 704, the gate driver circuit portion706, and the FPC terminal portion 708 via the signal line 710 from theFPC 716.

A plurality of gate driver circuit portions 706 may be provided in thedisplay device 700. An example of the display device 700 in which thesource driver circuit portion 704 and the gate driver circuit portion706 are formed over the first substrate 701 where the pixel portion 702is also formed is described; however, the structure is not limitedthereto. For example, only the gate driver circuit portion 706 may beformed over the first substrate 701 or only the source driver circuitportion 704 may be formed over the first substrate 701. In this case, asubstrate where a source driver circuit, a gate driver circuit, or thelike is formed (e.g., a driver circuit substrate formed using a singlecrystal semiconductor film or a polycrystalline semiconductor film) maybe mounted on the first substrate 701. There is no particular limitationon the connection method of a separately formed driver circuitsubstrate; a chip on glass (COG) method, a wire bonding method, or thelike can be used.

The pixel portion 702, the source driver circuit portion 704, and thegate driver circuit portion 706 included in the display device 700include a plurality of transistors. As the plurality of transistors, anyof the transistors that are the semiconductor devices of embodiments ofthe present invention can be used.

The display device 700 can include any of a variety of elements. Theelements includes, for example, an electroluminescent (EL) element(e.g., an EL element including organic and inorganic materials, anorganic EL element, an inorganic EL element, an LED), a light-emittingtransistor (a transistor which emits light by current), an electronemitter, a liquid crystal element, an electronic ink display element, anelectrophoretic element, an electrowetting element, a plasma display(PDP) element, micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) display element(e.g., a grating light valve (GLV), a digital micromirror device (DMD),a digital micro shutter (DMS) element, and an interferometric modulatordisplay (IMOD) element), and a piezoelectric ceramic display.

Note that examples of display devices including EL elements include anEL display.

Examples of display devices including electron emitters are a fieldemission display (FED) and an SED-type flat panel display (SED:surface-conduction electron-emitter display). Examples of displaydevices including liquid crystal elements include a liquid crystaldisplay (e.g., a transmissive liquid crystal display, a transflectiveliquid crystal display, a reflective liquid crystal display, adirect-view liquid crystal display, or a projection liquid crystaldisplay). An example of a display device including electronic inkdisplay element or electrophoretic elements is electronic paper. In thecase of a transflective liquid crystal display or a reflective liquidcrystal display, some or all of pixel electrodes function as reflectiveelectrodes. For example, some or all of pixel electrodes are formed tocontain aluminum, silver, or the like. In such a case, a memory circuitsuch as an SRAM can be provided under the reflective electrodes, leadingto lower power consumption.

As a display method in the display device 700, a progressive method, aninterlace method, or the like can be employed. Furthermore, colorelements controlled in a pixel at the time of color display are notlimited to three colors: R, G, and B (R, G, and B correspond to red,green, and blue, respectively). For example, four pixels of the R pixel,the G pixel, the B pixel, and a W (white) pixel may be included.Alternatively, a color element may be composed of two colors among R, G,and B as in PenTile layout. The two colors may differ among colorelements. Alternatively, one or more colors of yellow, cyan, magenta,and the like may be added to RGB. Note that the sizes of display regionsmay be different between respective dots of color elements. Embodimentsof the disclosed invention are not limited to a display device for colordisplay; the disclosed invention can also be applied to a display devicefor monochrome display.

A coloring layer (also referred to as a color filter) may be used inorder to obtain a full-color display device in which white light (W) fora backlight (e.g., an organic EL element, an inorganic EL element, anLED, or a fluorescent lamp) is used. As the coloring layer, red (R),green (G), blue (B), yellow (Y), or the like may be combined asappropriate, for example. With the use of the coloring layer, highercolor reproducibility can be obtained than in the case without thecoloring layer. In this case, by providing a region with the coloringlayer and a region without the coloring layer, white light in the regionwithout the coloring layer may be directly utilized for display. Bypartly providing the region without the coloring layer, a decrease inluminance due to the coloring layer can be suppressed, and 20% to 30% ofpower consumption can be reduced in some cases when an image isdisplayed brightly. Note that in the case where full-color display isperformed using a self-luminous element such as an organic EL element oran inorganic EL element, elements may emit light of their respectivecolors R, G, B, Y, and W. By using a self-luminous element, powerconsumption can be further reduced as compared to the case of using thecoloring layer in some cases.

As a coloring method, any of the following methods may be used: theabove-described color filter method in which part of white lightemission is converted into red light, green light, and blue lightthrough a color filter; a three-color method in which light emission ofred, green, and blue is used; and a color conversion method or a quantumdot method in which part of blue emission is converted into red light orgreen light.

In this embodiment, a structure including a liquid crystal element andan EL element as display elements is described with reference to FIGS.26 and 27. Note that FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along thedashed-dotted line Q-R shown in FIG. 25 and shows a structure includinga liquid crystal element as a display element, whereas FIG. 27 is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line Q-R shown inFIG. 25 and shows a structure including an EL element as a displayelement.

Common portions between FIGS. 26 and 27 are described first, and thendifferent portions are described.

<3-1. Common Portions in Display Devices>

The display device 700 illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27 includes a leadwiring portion 711, the pixel portion 702, the source driver circuitportion 704, and the FPC terminal portion 708. Note that the lead wiringportion 711 includes the signal line 710. The pixel portion 702 includesa transistor 750 and a capacitor 790. The source driver circuit portion704 includes a transistor 752.

The transistors 750 and 752 each have a structure similar to that of thetransistor 100 described above. Note that the transistors 750 and 752may each have a structure of the other transistors described in any ofthe above embodiments.

The transistors used in this embodiment each include an oxidesemiconductor film which is highly purified and in which formation ofoxygen vacancies is suppressed. In the transistor, the off-state currentcan be made small. Accordingly, an electrical signal such as an imagesignal can be held for a longer period, and a writing interval can beset longer in an on state. Accordingly, frequency of refresh operationcan be reduced, which leads to an effect of suppressing powerconsumption.

In addition, the transistor used in this embodiment can have relativelyhigh field-effect mobility and thus is capable of high speed operation.For example, with such a transistor which can operate at high speed usedfor a liquid crystal display device, a switching transistor in a pixelportion and a driver transistor in a driver circuit portion can beformed over one substrate. That is, a semiconductor device formed usinga silicon wafer or the like is not additionally needed as a drivercircuit, by which the number of components of the semiconductor devicecan be reduced. In addition, the transistor which can operate at highspeed can be used also in the pixel portion, whereby a high-qualityimage can be provided.

The capacitor 790 includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode. Thelower electrode is formed by processing an oxide semiconductor film. Theoxide semiconductor film and a first oxide semiconductor film of thetransistor 750 are formed through the same process. The upper electrodeis formed by processing a conductive film. The conductive film andconductive films functioning as source and drain electrodes of thetransistor 750 are formed through the same process. Furthermore,insulating films functioning as a second insulating film and a thirdinsulating film of the transistor 750 are provided between the lowerelectrode and the upper electrode. That is, the capacitor 790 has astacked-layer structure in which the insulating films functioning as adielectric are positioned between a pair of electrodes.

In FIGS. 26 and 27, a planarization insulating film 770 is provided overthe transistors 750 and 752 and the capacitor 790.

The planarization insulating film 770 can be formed using aheat-resistant organic material, such as a polyimide resin, an acrylicresin, a polyimide amide resin, a benzocyclobutene resin, a polyamideresin, or an epoxy resin. Note that the planarization insulating film770 may be formed by stacking a plurality of insulating films formedfrom these materials. Alternatively, a structure without theplanarization insulating film 770 may be employed.

The signal line 710 is formed through the same process as conductivefilms functioning as source and drain electrodes of the transistor 750or 752. Note that the signal line 710 may be formed using a conductivefilm which is formed through a different process from source and drainelectrodes of the transistor 750 or 752, for example, an oxidesemiconductor film formed through the same process as an oxidesemiconductor film functioning as a gate electrode. In the case wherethe signal line 710 is formed using a material containing a copperelement, for example, signal delay or the like due to wiring resistanceis reduced, which enables display on a large screen.

The FPC terminal portion 708 includes a connection electrode 760, ananisotropic conductive film 780, and the FPC 716. Note that theconnection electrode 760 is formed through the same process asconductive films functioning as source and drain electrodes of thetransistor 750 or 752. The connection electrode 760 is electricallyconnected to a terminal included in the FPC 716 through the anisotropicconductive film 780.

For example, a glass substrate can be used as the first substrate 701and the second substrate 705. A flexible substrate may be used as thefirst substrate 701 and the second substrate 705. Examples of theflexible substrate include a plastic substrate.

A structure 778 is provided between the first substrate 701 and thesecond substrate 705. The structure 778 is a columnar spacer obtained byselective etching of an insulating film and is provided to control thethickness (cell gap) between the first substrate 701 and the secondsubstrate 705. Alternatively, a spherical spacer may be used as thestructure 778.

Furthermore, a light-blocking film 738 functioning as a black matrix, acoloring film 736 functioning as a color filter, and an insulating film734 in contact with the light-blocking film 738 and the coloring film736 are provided on the second substrate 705 side.

<3-2. Structure Example of Display Device Using Liquid Crystal Element>

The display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 26 includes a liquid crystalelement 775. The liquid crystal element 775 includes a conductive film772, a conductive film 774, and a liquid crystal layer 776. Theconductive film 774 is provided on the second substrate 705 side andfunctions as a counter electrode. The display device 700 in FIG. 26 iscapable of displaying an image in such a manner that transmission ornon-transmission is controlled by change in the alignment state of theliquid crystal layer 776 depending on a voltage applied to theconductive films 772 and 774.

The conductive film 772 is connected to the conductive film functioningas source and drain electrodes of the transistor 750. The conductivefilm 772 is formed over the planarization insulating film 770 tofunction as a pixel electrode, i.e., one electrode of the displayelement. The conductive film 772 has a function of a reflectiveelectrode. The display device 700 in FIG. 26 is what is called areflective color liquid crystal display device in which external lightis reflected by the conductive film 772 to display an image through thecoloring film 736.

A conductive film that transmits visible light or a conductive film thatreflects visible light can be used for the conductive film 772. Forexample, a material including one kind selected from indium (In), zinc(Zn), and tin (Sn) is preferably used for the conductive film thattransmits visible light. For example, a material including aluminum orsilver is preferably used for the conductive film that reflects visiblelight. In this embodiment, the conductive film that reflects visiblelight is used for the conductive film 772.

Note that projections and depressions are provided in part of theplanarization insulating film 770 of the pixel portion 702 in thedisplay device 700 in FIG. 26. The projections and depressions can beformed in such a manner that the planarization insulating film 770 isformed using a resin film, and projections and depressions are formed onthe surface of the resin film. The conductive film 772 functioning as areflective electrode is formed along the projections and depressions.Therefore, when external light is incident on the conductive film 772,the light is reflected diffusely at the surface of the conductive film772, whereby visibility can be improved.

Note that the display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 26 is a reflectivecolor liquid crystal display device given as an example, but a displaytype is not limited thereto. For example, a transmissive color liquidcrystal display device in which the conductive film 772 is a conductivefilm that transmits visible light may be used. In the case of atransmissive color liquid crystal display device, projections anddepressions are not necessarily provided on the planarization insulatingfilm 770.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 26, an alignment film may be providedon a side of the conductive film 772 in contact with the liquid crystallayer 776 and on a side of the conductive film 774 in contact with theliquid crystal layer 776. Although not illustrated in FIG. 26, anoptical member (an optical substrate) and the like such as a polarizingmember, a retardation member, or an anti-reflection member may beprovided as appropriate. For example, circular polarization may beemployed by using a polarizing substrate and a retardation substrate. Inaddition, a backlight, a sidelight, or the like may be used as a lightsource.

In the case where a liquid crystal element is used as the displayelement, a thermotropic liquid crystal, a low-molecular liquid crystal,a high-molecular liquid crystal, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, aferroelectric liquid crystal, an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal, orthe like can be used. Such a liquid crystal material exhibits acholesteric phase, a smectic phase, a cubic phase, a chiral nematicphase, an isotropic phase, or the like depending on conditions.

Alternatively, in the case of employing a horizontal electric fieldmode, a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase for which an alignmentfilm is unnecessary may be used. A blue phase is one of liquid crystalphases, which is generated just before a cholesteric phase changes intoan isotropic phase while temperature of cholesteric liquid crystal isincreased. Since the blue phase appears only in a narrow temperaturerange, a liquid crystal composition in which several weight percent ormore of a chiral material is mixed is used for the liquid crystal layerin order to improve the temperature range. The liquid crystalcomposition containing a liquid crystal showing a blue phase and achiral material has a short response time and optical isotropy, whicheliminates the need for an alignment process. An alignment film does notneed to be provided and rubbing treatment is thus not necessary;accordingly, electrostatic discharge damage caused by the rubbingtreatment can be prevented and defects and damage of the liquid crystaldisplay device in the manufacturing process can be reduced. Moreover,the liquid crystal material which exhibits a blue phase has a smallviewing angle dependence.

In the case where a liquid crystal element is used as the displayelement, a twisted nematic (TN) mode, an in-plane-switching (IPS) mode,a fringe field switching (FFS) mode, an axially symmetric alignedmicro-cell (ASM) mode, an optical compensated birefringence (OCB) mode,a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mode, an antiferroelectric liquidcrystal (AFLC) mode, or the like can be used.

Furthermore, a normally black liquid crystal display device such as atransmissive liquid crystal display device utilizing a verticalalignment (VA) mode may also be used. There are some examples of avertical alignment mode; for example, a multi-domain vertical alignment(MVA) mode, a patterned vertical alignment (PVA) mode, an ASV mode, orthe like can be employed.

<3-3. Display Device Using Light-Emitting Element>

The display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 27 includes a light-emittingelement 782. The light-emitting element 782 includes a conductive film784, an EL layer 786, and a conductive film 788. The display device 700illustrated in FIG. 27 is capable of displaying an image by lightemission from the EL layer 786 included in the light-emitting element782.

The conductive film 784 is connected to the conductive film functioningas source and drain electrodes included in the transistor 750. Theconductive film 784 is formed over the planarization insulating film 770to function as a pixel electrode, i.e., one electrode of the displayelement. A conductive film which transmits visible light or a conductivefilm which reflects visible light can be used for the conductive film784. For example, a material including one kind selected from indium(In), zinc (Zn), and tin (Sn) is preferably used for the conductive filmthat transmits visible light. For example, a material including aluminumor silver is preferably used for the conductive film that reflectsvisible light.

In the display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 27, an insulating film 730is provided over the planarization insulating film 770 and theconductive film 784. The insulating film 730 covers part of theconductive film 784. Note that the light-emitting element 782 has a topemission structure. Therefore, the conductive film 788 has alight-transmitting property and transmits light emitted from the ELlayer 786. Although the top-emission structure is described as anexample in this embodiment, one embodiment of the present invention isnot limited thereto. A bottom-emission structure in which light isemitted to the conductive film 784 side, or a dual-emission structure inwhich light is emitted to both the conductive film 784 side and theconductive film 788 side may be employed.

The coloring film 736 is provided to overlap with the light-emittingelement 782, and the light-blocking film 738 is provided to overlap withthe insulating film 730 and to be included in the lead wiring portion711 and in the source driver circuit portion 704. The coloring film 736and the light-blocking film 738 are covered with the insulating film734. A space between the light-emitting element 782 and the insulatingfilm 734 is filled with a sealing film 732. Note that the structure isnot limited to the example in which the coloring film 736 is provided inthe display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 27; for example, in the casewhere the EL layer 786 is formed by a separate coloring method, thecoloring film 736 is not necessarily provided.

The structure described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures described in the otherembodiments and examples.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, an example of a circuit configuration of asemiconductor device, which can hold stored data even when not powered,and which does not have a limitation on the number of write cycles, isdescribed with reference to FIG. 28.

<4-1. Circuit Configuration>

FIG. 28 shows an example of a circuit configuration of a semiconductordevice. In FIG. 28, a first wiring (1st Line) is electrically connectedto one of source and drain electrodes of a p-channel transistor 1280 a.Further, the other of the source and drain electrodes of the p-channeltransistor 1280 a is electrically connected to one of source and drainelectrodes of an n-channel transistor 1280 b. Further, the other of thesource and drain electrodes of the n-channel transistor 1280 b iselectrically connected to one of source and drain electrodes of ann-channel transistor 1280 c.

A second wiring (2nd Line) is electrically connected to one of sourceand drain electrodes of a transistor 1282. Further, the other of thesource and drain electrodes of the transistor 1282, one electrode of acapacitor 1281, and a gate electrode of the n-channel transistor 1280 care electrically connected to each other.

A third wiring (3rd Line) and gate electrodes of the p-channeltransistor 1280 a and the n-channel transistor 1280 b are electricallyconnected to each other. Further, a fourth wiring (4th Line) iselectrically connected to a gate electrode of the transistor 1282.Further, a fifth wiring (5th Line), the other electrode of the capacitor1281, and the other of the source and drain electrodes of the n-channeltransistor 1280 c are electrically connected to each other. Further, asixth wiring (6th Line), the other of the source and drain electrodes ofthe p-channel transistor 1280 a, and one of the source and drainelectrodes of the n-channel transistor 1280 b are electrically connectedto each other.

Note that the transistor 1282 can be formed using an oxide semiconductor(OS). Therefore, in FIG. 28, “OS” is written beside the transistor 1282.Note that the transistor 1282 may be formed using a material other thanan oxide semiconductor.

Further, in FIG. 28, a floating node (FN) is written at a connectionportion of the other of the source and drain electrodes of thetransistor 1282, the one electrode of the capacitor 1281, and the gateelectrode of the n-channel transistor 1280 c. When the transistor 1282is turned off, a potential supplied to the floating node, the oneelectrode of the capacitor 1281, and the gate electrode of the n-channeltransistor 1280 c can be held.

The circuit configuration in FIG. 28 utilizes the advantage that thepotential of the gate electrode of the n-channel transistor 1280 c canbe held, whereby writing, holding, and reading of data can be performedas described below.

<4-2. Writing and Holding of Data>

First, writing and holding of data are described. The potential of thefourth wiring is set to a potential at which the transistor 1282 isturned on, so that the transistor 1282 is turned on. Accordingly, thepotential of the second wiring is supplied to the gate electrode of then-channel transistor 1280 c and the capacitor 1281. That is,predetermined charge is supplied to the gate electrode of the n-channeltransistor 1280 c (writing). After that, the potential of the fourthwiring is set to a potential at which the transistor 1282 is turned off,and the transistor 1282 is turned off. Accordingly, charge applied tothe gate electrode of the n-channel transistor 1280 c is held (holding).

Since the off-state current of the transistor 1282 is extremely low, thecharge in the gate electrode of the n-channel transistor 1280 c is heldfor a long time.

<4-3. Reading of Data>

Next, reading of data is described. When the potential of the thirdwiring is a Low-level potential, the p-channel transistor 1280 a isturned on and the n-channel transistor 1280 b is turned off. At thistime, the potential of the first wiring is applied to the sixth wiring.On the other hand, when the potential of the third wiring is aHigh-level potential, the p-channel transistor 1280 a is turned off andthe n-channel transistor 1280 b is turned on. At this time, thepotential of the sixth wiring varies in response to the amount of chargeheld in the floating node (FN). Therefore, the retained data can be readby measuring the potential of the sixth wiring (reading).

The transistor 1282 in which a channel formation region is formed usingan oxide semiconductor has extremely low off-state current. Theoff-state current of the transistor 1282 using an oxide semiconductor islower than or equal to one hundred-thousandth of that of the off-statecurrent of a transistor formed using a silicon semiconductor or thelike; thus, loss of the electrical charge accumulated in the floatingnode (FN) due to leakage of the transistor 1282 is as small asnegligible. That is, the transistor 1282 using an oxide semiconductormakes it possible to obtain a nonvolatile memory circuit which can holddata even without being supplied with power.

By applying the semiconductor device including the above-describedcircuit configuration to a memory device such as a register or a cachememory, data in the memory device can be prevented from being erasedowing to the stop of the supply of the power supply voltage. Inaddition, after the supply of the power supply voltage is resumed, thestorage element can return to the state same as that before the powersupply voltage is stopped in a short time. Therefore, the power supplycan be stopped even for a short time when the whole memory device or oneor a plurality of logic circuits included in the memory device is in astandby state. Accordingly, power consumption can be suppressed.

The structure, method, and the like described in this embodiment can becombined as appropriate with any of the other structures, methods, andthe like described in the other embodiments and examples

Embodiment 5

In this embodiment, a configuration of a pixel circuit capable of beingused in a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the presentinvention is described below with reference to FIG. 29A.

<5-1. Configuration of Pixel Circuit>

FIG. 29A illustrates a configuration of the pixel circuit. The circuitin FIG. 29A includes a photoelectric conversion element 1360, atransistor 1351, a transistor 1352, a transistor 1353, and a transistor1354.

An anode of the photoelectric conversion element 1360 is connected to awiring 1316, and a cathode of the photoelectric conversion element 1360is connected to one of source and drain electrodes of the transistor1351. The other of the source and drain electrodes of the transistor1351 is connected to a charge accumulation portion (FD), and a gateelectrode of the transistor 1351 is connected to a wiring 1312 (TX). Oneof source and drain electrodes of the transistor 1352 is connected to awiring 1314 (GND), and the other of the source and drain electrodes ofthe transistor 1352 is connected to one of source and drain electrodesof the transistor 1354. A gate electrode of the transistor 1352 isconnected to the charge accumulation portion (FD). One of source anddrain electrodes of the transistor 1353 is connected to the chargeaccumulation portion (FD), and the other of the source and drainelectrodes of the transistor 1353 is connected to a wiring 1317. A gateelectrode of the transistor 1353 is connected to a wiring 1311 (RS). Theother of the source and drain electrodes of the transistor 1354 isconnected to a wiring 1315 (OUT), and a gate electrode of the transistor1354 is connected to a wiring 1313 (SE). Note that all the connection iselectrical connection.

A potential such as GND, VSS, or VDD may be applied to the wiring 1314.Here, a potential or voltage has a relative value. Therefore, thepotential GND is not necessarily 0 V.

The photoelectric conversion element 1360 is a light-receiving elementand has a function of generating current based on the amount of lightthat enters the pixel circuit. The transistor 1353 has a function ofcontrolling accumulation of charge in the charge accumulation portion(FD) by the photoelectric conversion element 1360. The transistor 1354has a function of outputting a signal based on the potential of thecharge accumulation portion (FD). The transistor 1352 has a function ofresetting the potential of the charge accumulation portion (FD). Thetransistor 1352 has a function of controlling selection of the pixelcircuit at the time of reading.

Note that the charge accumulation portion (FD) is a charge retentionnode and retains charge that is changed depending on the amount of lightreceived by the photoelectric conversion element 1360.

Note that the transistors 1352 and 1354 only need to be connected inseries between the wirings 1314 and 1315. Thus, the wiring 1314, thetransistor 1352, the transistor 1354, and the wiring 1315 may bearranged in that order, or the wiring 1314, the transistor 1354, thetransistor 1352, and the wiring 1315 may be arranged in that order.

The wiring 1311 (RS) functions as a signal line for controlling thetransistor 1353. The wiring 1312 (TX) functions as a signal line forcontrolling the transistor 1351. The wiring 1313 (SE) functions as asignal line for controlling the transistor 1354. The wiring 1314 (GND)functions as a signal line for supplying a reference potential (e.g.,GND). The wiring 1315 (OUT) functions as a signal line for reading asignal output from the transistor 1352. The wiring 1316 functions as asignal line for outputting charge from the charge accumulation portion(FD) through the photoelectric conversion element 1360 and is alow-potential line in the circuit in FIG. 29A. The wiring 1317 functionsas a signal line for resetting the potential of the charge accumulationportion (FD) and is a high-potential line in the circuit in FIG. 29A.

Next, a structure of each component illustrated in FIG. 29A isdescribed.

<5-2. Photoelectric Conversion Element>

An element including selenium or a selenium-containing compound(hereinafter referred to as a selenium-based material) or an elementincluding silicon (e.g., an element in which a pin junction is formed)can be used as the photoelectric conversion element 1360. Thephotoelectric conversion element including the selenium-based materialis preferably used in combination with a transistor including an oxidesemiconductor, in which case high reliability can be achieved.

<5-3. Transistor>

Although a silicon semiconductor such as amorphous silicon,microcrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or single crystalsilicon can be used to form the transistors 1351 to 1354, thetransistors 1351 to 1354 are preferably OS transistors. A transistor inwhich a channel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductorhas extremely low off-state current. The transistor described inEmbodiment 1, for example, can be used as the transistor in which achannel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductor.

In particular, when the transistors 1351 and 1353 connected to thecharge accumulation portion (FD) has high leakage current, chargeaccumulated in the charge accumulation portion (FD) cannot be held for asufficiently long time. The use of OS transistors as the transistors1351 and 1353 can prevent unwanted output of charge from the chargeaccumulation portion (FD).

Unwanted output of charge also occurs in the wiring 1314 or 1315 whenthe transistors 1352 and 1354 have high leakage current; thus, atransistor in which a channel formation region is formed using an oxidesemiconductor is preferably used as each of these transistors.

The transistor illustrated in FIG. 29A includes one gate electrode.However, the transistor is not limited thereto and may include aplurality of gate electrodes, for example. The transistor including aplurality of gate electrodes is, for example, a transistor including afirst gate electrode and a second gate electrode (also referred to as aback-gate electrode) which overlap with a semiconductor film in which achannel formation region is formed. The back-gate electrode may besupplied with a potential which is the same as that supplied to thefirst gate electrode, a floating potential, or a potential which isdifferent from that supplied to the first gate electrode.

<5-4. Timing Chart of Circuit Operation>

An example of operation of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 29A isdescribed with reference to a timing chart in FIG. 29B.

In FIG. 29B, the potential of each wiring is a signal that variesbetween two levels for simplicity. Since each potential is an analogsignal, the potential can, in practice, have various levels depending onconditions without being limited to two levels. In FIG. 29B, a signal1401 corresponds to the potential of the wiring 1311 (RS); a signal 1402corresponds to the potential of the wiring 1312 (TX); a signal 1403corresponds to the potential of the wiring 1313 (SE); a signal 1404corresponds to the potential of the charge accumulation portion (FD);and a signal 1405 corresponds to the potential of the wiring 1315 (OUT).Note that the potential of the wiring 1316 is always at a low level, andthe potential of the wiring 1317 is always at a high level.

At time A, the potential (signal 1401) of the wiring 1311 is at a highlevel and the potential (signal 1402) of the wiring 1312 is at a highlevel, so that the potential (signal 1404) of the charge accumulationportion (FD) is initialized to the potential (high level) of the wiring1317, and reset operation is started. Note that the potential (signal1405) of the wiring 1315 is precharged to a high level.

At time B, the potential (signal 1401) of the wiring 1311 is set at alow level, so that the reset operation is terminated to startaccumulation operation. Here, a reverse bias is applied to thephotoelectric conversion element 1360, so that the potential (signal1404) of the charge accumulation portion (FD) starts to decrease due toreverse current. Since irradiation of the photoelectric conversionelement 1360 with light increases the reverse current, the rate ofdecrease in the potential (signal 1404) of the charge accumulationportion (FD) changes depending on the amount of the light irradiation.In other words, channel resistance between the source and drainelectrodes of the transistor 1354 changes depending on the amount oflight delivered to the photoelectric conversion element 1360.

At time C, the potential (signal 1402) of the wiring 1312 is set to alow level to terminate the accumulation operation, so that the potential(signal 1404) of the charge accumulation portion (FD) becomes constant.Here, the potential is determined by the amount of charge generated bythe photoelectric conversion element 1360 during the accumulationoperation. That is, the potential changes depending on the amount oflight delivered to the photoelectric conversion element 1360.Furthermore, since each of the transistors 1351 and 1353 is a transistorthat includes a channel formation region formed using an oxidesemiconductor and has extremely low off-state current, the potential ofthe charge accumulation portion (FD) can be kept constant untilsubsequent selection operation (read operation) is performed.

Note that when the potential (signal 1402) of the wiring 1312 is set ata low level, the potential of the charge accumulation portion (FD) mightchange owing to parasitic capacitance between the wiring 1312 and thecharge accumulation portion (FD). In the case where the amount of changein the potential is large, the amount of charge generated by thephotoelectric conversion element 1360 during the accumulation operationcannot be obtained accurately. Examples of effective measures to reducethe amount of change in the potential include reducing capacitancebetween the gate electrode and the source electrode (or between the gateelectrode and the drain electrode) of the transistor 1351, increasingthe gate capacitance of the transistor 1352, and providing a storagecapacitor in the charge accumulation portion (FD). Note that in thisembodiment, the change in the potential can be ignored by taking thesemeasures.

At time D, the potential (signal 1403) of the wiring 1313 is set at ahigh level to turn on the transistor 1354, so that selection operationstarts and the wirings 1314 and 1315 are electrically connected to eachother through the transistors 1352 and 1354. The potential (signal 1405)of the wiring 1315 starts to decrease. Note that precharge of the wiring1315 is terminated before the time D. Here, the rate at which thepotential (signal 1405) of the wiring 1315 decreases depends on currentbetween the source and drain electrodes of the transistor 1352. That is,the potential (signal 1405) of the wiring 1315 changes depending on theamount of light delivered to the photoelectric conversion element 1360during the accumulation operation.

At time E, the potential (signal 1403) of the wiring 1313 is set at alow level to turn off the transistor 1354, so that the selectionoperation is terminated and the potential (signal 1405) of the wiring1315 becomes a constant value. Here, the constant value changesdepending on the amount of light delivered to the photoelectricconversion element 1360. Therefore, the amount of light delivered to thephotoelectric conversion element 1360 during the accumulation operationcan be determined by measuring the potential of the wiring 1315.

Specifically, when the photoelectric conversion element 1360 isirradiated with light with high intensity, the potential of the chargeaccumulation portion (FD), that is, the gate voltage of the transistor1352 is decreased. Therefore, current flowing between the source anddrain electrodes of the transistor 1352 becomes small; as a result, thepotential (signal 1405) of the wiring 1315 is gradually decreased. Thus,a comparatively high potential can be read from the wiring 1315.

In contrast, when the photoelectric conversion element 1360 isirradiated with light with low intensity, the potential of the chargeaccumulation portion (FD), that is, the gate voltage of the transistor1352 is increased. Therefore, the current flowing between the source anddrain electrodes of the transistor 1352 becomes large; as a result, thepotential (signal 1405) of the wiring 1315 is rapidly decreased. Thus, acomparatively low potential can be read from the wiring 1315.

The structure described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures described in the otherembodiments and examples.

Embodiment 6

In this embodiment, a display device that includes a semiconductordevice of one embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to FIGS. 30A to 30C.

<6. Circuit Configuration of Display Device>

The display device illustrated in FIG. 30A includes a region includingpixels (hereinafter the region is referred to as a pixel portion 502), acircuit portion provided outside the pixel portion 502 and including acircuit for driving the pixels (hereinafter the portion is referred toas a driver circuit portion 504), circuits each having a function ofprotecting an element (hereinafter the circuits are referred to asprotection circuits 506), and a terminal portion 507. Note that theprotection circuits 506 are not necessarily provided.

Part or the whole of the driver circuit portion 504 is preferably formedover a substrate over which the pixel portion 502 is formed, in whichcase the number of components and the number of terminals can bereduced. When part or the whole of the driver circuit portion 504 is notformed over the substrate over which the pixel portion 502 is formed,the part or the whole of the driver circuit portion 504 can be mountedby COG or tape automated bonding (TAB).

The pixel portion 502 includes a plurality of circuits for drivingdisplay elements arranged in X rows (X is a natural number of 2 or more)and Y columns (Y is a natural number of 2 or more) (hereinafter suchcircuits are referred to as pixel circuits 501). The driver circuitportion 504 includes driver circuits such as a circuit for supplying asignal (scan signal) to select a pixel (hereinafter the circuit isreferred to as a gate driver 504 a) and a circuit for supplying a signal(data signal) to drive a display element in a pixel (hereinafter thecircuit is referred to as a source driver 504 b).

The gate driver 504 a includes a shift register or the like. The gatedriver 504 a receives a signal for driving the shift register throughthe terminal portion 507 and outputs a signal. For example, the gatedriver 504 a receives a start pulse signal, a clock signal, or the likeand outputs a pulse signal. The gate driver 504 a has a function ofcontrolling the potentials of wirings supplied with scan signals(hereinafter such wirings are referred to as scan lines GL_1 to GL_X).Note that a plurality of gate drivers 504 a may be provided to controlthe scan lines GL_1 to GL_X separately. Alternatively, the gate driver504 a has a function of supplying an initialization signal. Withoutbeing limited thereto, the gate driver 504 a can supply another signal.

The source driver 504 b includes a shift register or the like. Thesource driver 504 b receives a signal (image signal) from which a datasignal is derived, as well as a signal for driving the shift register,through the terminal portion 507. The source driver 504 b has a functionof generating a data signal to be written to the pixel circuit 501 whichis based on the image signal. In addition, the source driver 504 b has afunction of controlling output of a data signal in response to a pulsesignal produced by input of a start pulse signal, a clock signal, or thelike. Furthermore, the source driver 504 b has a function of controllingthe potentials of wirings supplied with data signals (hereinafter suchwirings are referred to as data lines DL_1 to DL_Y). Alternatively, thesource driver 504 b has a function of supplying an initializationsignal. Without being limited thereto, the source driver 504 b cansupply another signal.

The source driver 504 b includes a plurality of analog switches or thelike, for example. The source driver 504 b can output, as the datasignals, signals obtained by time-dividing the image signal bysequentially turning on the plurality of analog switches. The sourcedriver 504 b may include a shift register or the like.

A pulse signal and a data signal are input to each of the plurality ofpixel circuits 501 through one of the plurality of scan lines GLsupplied with scan signals and one of the plurality of data lines DLsupplied with data signals, respectively. Writing and holding of thedata signal to and in each of the plurality of pixel circuits 501 arecontrolled by the gate driver 504 a. For example, to the pixel circuit501 in the m-th row and the n-th column (m is a natural number of lessthan or equal to X, and n is a natural number of less than or equal toY), a pulse signal is input from the gate driver 504 a through the scanline GL_m, and a data signal is input from the source driver 504 bthrough the data line DL_n in accordance with the potential of the scanline GL_m.

The protection circuit 506 illustrated in FIG. 30A is connected to, forexample, the scan line GL between the gate driver 504 a and the pixelcircuit 501. Alternatively, the protection circuit 506 is connected tothe data line DL between the source driver 504 b and the pixel circuit501. Alternatively, the protection circuit 506 can be connected to awiring between the gate driver 504 a and the terminal portion 507.Alternatively, the protection circuit 506 can be connected to a wiringbetween the source driver 504 b and the terminal portion 507. Note thatthe terminal portion 507 means a portion having terminals for inputtingpower, control signals, and image signals to the display device fromexternal circuits.

The protection circuit 506 is a circuit that electrically connects awiring connected to the protection circuit to another wiring when apotential out of a certain range is applied to the wiring connected tothe protection circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 30A, the protection circuits 506 are provided forthe pixel portion 502 and the driver circuit portion 504, so that theresistance of the display device to overcurrent generated byelectrostatic discharge (ESD) or the like can be improved. Note that theconfiguration of the protection circuits 506 is not limited to that, andfor example, the protection circuit 506 may be configured to beconnected to the gate driver 504 a or the protection circuit 506 may beconfigured to be connected to the source driver 504 b. Alternatively,the protection circuit 506 may be configured to be connected to theterminal portion 507.

In FIG. 30A, an example in which the driver circuit portion 504 includesthe gate driver 504 a and the source driver 504 b is shown; however, thestructure is not limited thereto. For example, only the gate driver 504a may be formed and a separately prepared substrate where a sourcedriver circuit is formed (e.g., a driver circuit substrate formed with asingle crystal semiconductor film or a polycrystalline semiconductorfilm) may be mounted.

Each of the plurality of pixel circuits 501 in FIG. 30A can have thestructure illustrated in FIG. 30B, for example.

The pixel circuit 501 illustrated in FIG. 30B includes a liquid crystalelement 570, a transistor 550, and a capacitor 560. As the transistor550, any of the transistors described in the above embodiments can beused.

The potential of one of a pair of electrodes of the liquid crystalelement 570 is set in accordance with the specifications of the pixelcircuit 501 as appropriate. The alignment state of the liquid crystalelement 570 depends on written data. A common potential may be suppliedto one of the pair of electrodes of the liquid crystal element 570included in each of the plurality of pixel circuits 501. Furthermore,the potential supplied to one of the pair of electrodes of the liquidcrystal element 570 in the pixel circuit 501 in one row may be differentfrom the potential supplied to one of the pair of electrodes of theliquid crystal element 570 in the pixel circuit 501 in another row.

As a driving method of the display device including the liquid crystalelement 570, any of the following modes can be used, for example: a TNmode, an STN mode, a VA mode, an axially symmetric aligned micro-cell(ASM) mode, an optically compensated birefringence (OCB) mode, aferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mode, an antiferroelectric liquidcrystal (AFLC) mode, an MVA mode, a patterned vertical alignment (PVA)mode, an IPS mode, an FFS mode, and a transverse bend alignment (TBA)mode. Other examples of the driving method of the display device includean electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode, a polymer-dispersedliquid crystal (PDLC) mode, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC)mode, and a guest-host mode. Note that the present invention is notlimited to these examples, and various liquid crystal elements anddriving methods can be applied to the liquid crystal element and thedriving method thereof.

In the pixel circuit 501 in the m-th row and the n-th column, one ofsource and drain electrodes of the transistor 550 is electricallyconnected to the data line DL_n, and the other is electrically connectedto the other of the pair of electrodes of the liquid crystal element570. A gate electrode of the transistor 550 is electrically connected tothe scan line GL_m. The transistor 550 has a function of controllingwhether to write a data signal by being turned on or off.

One of a pair of electrodes of the capacitor 560 is electricallyconnected to a wiring to which a potential is supplied (hereinafterreferred to as a potential supply line VL), and the other iselectrically connected to the other of the pair of electrodes of theliquid crystal element 570. The potential of the potential supply lineVL is set in accordance with the specifications of the pixel circuit 501as appropriate. The capacitor 560 functions as a storage capacitor forholding written data.

For example, in the display device including the pixel circuit 501 inFIG. 30B, the pixel circuits 501 are sequentially selected row by row bythe gate driver 504 a illustrated in FIG. 30A, whereby the transistors550 are turned on and a data signal is written.

When the transistors 550 are turned off, the pixel circuits 501 in whichthe data has been written are brought into a holding state. Thisoperation is sequentially performed row by row; thus, an image can bedisplayed.

Alternatively, each of the plurality of pixel circuits 501 in FIG. 30Acan have the structure illustrated in FIG. 30C, for example.

The pixel circuit 501 illustrated in FIG. 30C includes transistors 552and 554, a capacitor 562, and a light-emitting element 572. Any of thetransistors described in the above embodiments can be used as one orboth of the transistors 552 and 554.

One of source and drain electrodes of the transistor 552 is electricallyconnected to a wiring to which a data signal is supplied (hereinafterreferred to as a data line DL_n). A gate electrode of the transistor 552is electrically connected to a wiring to which a gate signal is supplied(hereinafter referred to as a scan line GL_m).

The transistor 552 has a function of controlling whether to write a datasignal by being turned on or off.

One of a pair of electrodes of the capacitor 562 is electricallyconnected to a wiring to which a potential is supplied (hereinafterreferred to as a potential supply line VL_a), and the other iselectrically connected to the other of the source and drain electrodesof the transistor 552.

The capacitor 562 functions as a storage capacitor for holding writtendata.

One of source and drain electrodes of the transistor 554 is electricallyconnected to the potential supply line VL_a. Furthermore, a gateelectrode of the transistor 554 is electrically connected to the otherof the source and drain electrodes of the transistor 552.

One of an anode and a cathode of the light-emitting element 572 iselectrically connected to a potential supply line VL_b, and the other iselectrically connected to the other of the source and drain electrodesof the transistor 554.

As the light-emitting element 572, an organic electroluminescent element(also referred to as an organic EL element) or the like can be used, forexample. Note that the light-emitting element 572 is not limited to anorganic EL element; an inorganic EL element including an inorganicmaterial may be used.

A high power supply potential VDD is supplied to one of the potentialsupply line VL_a and the potential supply line VL_b, and a low powersupply potential VSS is supplied to the other.

For example, in the display device including the pixel circuit 501 inFIG. 30C, the pixel circuits 501 are sequentially selected row by row bythe gate driver 504 a illustrated in FIG. 30A, whereby the transistors552 are turned on and a data signal is written.

When the transistors 552 are turned off, the pixel circuits 501 in whichthe data has been written are brought into a holding state. Furthermore,the amount of current flowing between the source and drain electrodes ofthe transistor 554 is controlled in accordance with the potential of thewritten data signal. The light-emitting element 572 emits light with aluminance corresponding to the amount of flowing current. This operationis sequentially performed row by row; thus, an image can be displayed.

The structure described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures described in the otherembodiments and examples.

Embodiment 7

In this embodiment, a display module and electronic appliances thatinclude a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the presentinvention are described with reference to FIG. 31 and FIGS. 32A to 32G.

<7-1. Display Module>

In a display module 8000 illustrated in FIG. 31, a touch panel 8004connected to an FPC 8003, a display panel 8006 connected to an FPC 8005,a backlight 8007, a frame 8009, a printed circuit board 8010, and abattery 8011 are provided between an upper cover 8001 and a lower cover8002.

The semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention canbe used for, for example, the display panel 8006.

The shapes and sizes of the upper cover 8001 and the lower cover 8002can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the sizes of the touchpanel 8004 and the display panel 8006.

The touch panel 8004 can be a resistive touch panel or a capacitivetouch panel and can be formed to overlap with the display panel 8006. Acounter substrate (sealing substrate) of the display panel 8006 can havea touch panel function. A photosensor may be provided in each pixel ofthe display panel 8006 to form an optical touch panel.

The backlight 8007 includes a light source 8008. Note that the structureis not limited to the example in FIG. 31, in which the light sources8008 are provided over the backlight 8007; for example, a structure inwhich the light source 8008 is provided at an end portion of thebacklight 8007 and a light diffusion plate is further provided may beemployed. Note that the backlight 8007 need not be provided in the casewhere a self-luminous light-emitting element such as an organic ELelement is used or in the case where a reflective panel or the like isemployed.

The frame 8009 protects the display panel 8006 and also functions as anelectromagnetic shield for blocking electromagnetic waves generated bythe operation of the printed circuit board 8010. The frame 8009 mayfunction as a radiator plate.

The printed circuit board 8010 is provided with a power supply circuitand a signal processing circuit for outputting a video signal and aclock signal. As a power source for supplying power to the power supplycircuit, an external commercial power source or a power source using thebattery 8011 provided separately may be used. The battery 8011 can beomitted in the case of using a commercial power source.

The display module 8000 may be additionally provided with a member suchas a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, or a prism sheet.

<7-2. Electronic Appliance>

FIGS. 32A to 32G illustrate electronic appliances. These electronicappliances can include a housing 9000, a display portion 9001, a speaker9003, operation keys 9005 (including a power switch or an operationswitch), a connection terminal 9006, a sensor 9007 (a sensor having afunction of measuring or sensing force, displacement, position, speed,acceleration, angular velocity, rotational frequency, distance, light,liquid, magnetism, temperature, chemical substance, sound, time,hardness, electric field, current, voltage, electric power, radiation,flow rate, humidity, gradient, oscillation, odor, or infrared rays), amicrophone 9008, and the like.

The electronic appliances illustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32G can have avariety of functions, for example, a function of displaying a variety ofdata (a still image, a moving image, a text image, and the like) on thedisplay portion, a touch panel function, a function of displaying acalendar, date, time, and the like, a function of controlling a processwith a variety of software (programs), a wireless communicationfunction, a function of being connected to a variety of computernetworks with a wireless communication function, a function oftransmitting and receiving a variety of data with a wirelesscommunication function, a function of reading a program or data storedin a memory medium and displaying the program or data on the displayportion, and the like. Note that functions that can be provided for theelectronic appliances illustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32G are not limited tothose described above, and the electronic appliances can have a varietyof functions. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32G, theelectronic appliance may include a plurality of display portions.Furthermore, the electronic appliance may be provided with a camera andthe like and have a function of shooting a still image, a function ofshooting a moving image, a function of storing a shot image in a memorymedium (an external memory medium or a memory medium incorporated in thecamera), a function of displaying a shot image on the display portion,or the like.

The electronic appliances illustrated in FIGS. 32A to 32G are describedin detail below.

FIG. 32A is a perspective view illustrating a television device 9100.The television device 9100 can include the display portion 9001 having alarge screen size of, for example, 50 inches or more, or 100 inches ormore.

FIG. 32B is a perspective view illustrating a portable informationterminal 9101. The portable information terminal 9101 function as, forexample, one or more of a telephone set, a notebook, and an informationbrowsing system. Specifically, the portable information terminal 9101can be used as a smartphone. Note that the portable information terminal9101 may include the speaker, the connection terminal, the sensor, andthe like. The portable information terminal 9101 can display charactersand image information on its plurality of surfaces. For example, threeoperation buttons 9050 (also referred to as operation icons or simplyicons) can be displayed on one surface of the display portion 9001.Furthermore, information 9051 indicated by dashed rectangles can bedisplayed on another surface of the display portion 9001. Examples ofthe information 9051 include display indicating reception of an incomingemail, social networking service (SNS) message, and call; the title andsender of an email and SNS message; the date; the time; remainingbattery; and the reception strength of an antenna. Alternatively, theoperation buttons 9050 or the like may be displayed in place of theinformation 9051.

FIG. 32C is a perspective view illustrating a portable informationterminal 9102. The portable information terminal 9102 has a function ofdisplaying information, for example, on three or more sides of thedisplay portion 9001. Here, information 9052, information 9053, andinformation 9054 are displayed on different sides. For example, a userof the portable information terminal 9102 can see the display (here, theinformation 9053) with the portable information terminal 9102 put in abreast pocket of his/her clothes. Specifically, a caller's phone number,name, or the like of an incoming call is displayed in a position thatcan be seen from above the portable information terminal 9102. Thus, theuser can see the display without taking out the portable informationterminal 9102 from the pocket and decide whether to answer the call.

FIG. 32D is a perspective view illustrating a wrist-watch-type portableinformation terminal 9200. The portable information terminal 9200 iscapable of executing a variety of applications such as mobile phonecalls, e-mailing, reading and editing texts, music reproduction,Internet communication, and a computer game. The display surface of thedisplay portion 9001 is bent, and images can be displayed on the bentdisplay surface. The portable information terminal 9200 can employ nearfield communication that is a communication method based on an existingcommunication standard. In that case, for example, mutual communicationbetween the portable information terminal 9200 and a headset capable ofwireless communication can be performed, and thus hands-free calling ispossible. Moreover, the portable information terminal 9200 includes theconnection terminal 9006, and data can be directly transmitted to andreceived from another information terminal via a connector. Chargingthrough the connection terminal 9006 is possible. Note that the chargingoperation may be performed by wireless power feeding without using theconnection terminal 9006.

FIGS. 32E, 32F, and 32G are perspective views each illustrating afoldable portable information terminal 9201. FIG. 32E is a perspectiveview illustrating the portable information terminal 9201 that is opened,FIG. 32F is a perspective view illustrating the portable informationterminal 9201 that is being opened or being folded, and FIG. 32G is aperspective view illustrating the portable information terminal 9201that is folded. The portable information terminal 9201 is highlyportable when folded. When the portable information terminal 9201 isopened, a seamless large display region is highly browsable. The displayportion 9001 of the portable information terminal 9201 is supported bythree housings 9000 joined together by hinges 9055. By folding theportable information terminal 9201 at a connection portion between twohousings 9000 with the hinges 9055, the portable information terminal9201 can be reversibly changed in shape from an opened state to a foldedstate. For example, the portable information terminal 9201 can be bentwith a radius of curvature of greater than or equal to 1 mm and lessthan or equal to 150 mm.

The electronic appliances described in this embodiment each include thedisplay portion for displaying some sort of data. Note that thesemiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention can alsobe used for an electronic appliance that does not have a displayportion.

The structure described in this embodiment can be combined asappropriate with any of the other structures described in the otherembodiments and examples.

Example 1

In this example, transistors of one embodiment of the present inventionwere formed, the electrical characteristics of the transistors weremeasured, and the cross-sectional shapes of the transistors wereobserved.

Note that Sample A1 was fabricated in this example. First, a method forfabricating Sample A1 is described below. Note that Sample A1 is asample in which transistors corresponding to the transistor 100Cillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B are formed. In the description below, thesame reference numerals are used for a structure similar to thestructure of the transistor 100C illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

<1-1. Method for Fabricating Sample A1>

First, the substrate 102 was prepared. As the substrate 102, a glasssubstrate was used. Next, the conductive film 106 was formed over thesubstrate 102. As the conductive film 106, a 100-nm-thick tungsten filmwas formed with a sputtering apparatus.

Next, the insulating film 104 was formed over the substrate 102 and theconductive film 106. Note that in this example, as the insulating film104, insulating films 104_1, 104_2, 104_3, and 104_4 (not illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B) were successively formed in this order with a PECVDapparatus in a vacuum. A 50-nm-thick silicon nitride film was formed asthe insulating film 104_1. A 300-nm-thick silicon nitride film wasformed as the insulating film 104_2. A 50-nm-thick silicon nitride filmwas formed as the insulating film 104_3. A 50-nm-thick siliconoxynitride film was formed as the insulating film 104_4.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film was formed over the insulating film104 and was processed into an island shape, whereby the oxidesemiconductor film 108 was formed. A 40-nm-thick oxide semiconductorfilm was formed as the oxide semiconductor film 108. Note that asputtering apparatus was used to form the oxide semiconductor film 108;a metal oxide of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1.2 [atomic ratio] was used as asputtering target, and an AC power supply was used to supply power tothe sputtering target. Note that processing into the oxide semiconductorfilm 108 was performed by a wet etching method.

Next, an insulating film to be the insulating film 110 was formed overthe insulating film 104 and the oxide semiconductor film 108. As theinsulating film, a 10-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film and a 90-nm-thicksilicon oxynitride film were successively formed with a PECVD apparatusin a vacuum.

Next, heat treatment was performed. The heat treatment was performed at350° C. in a mixed gas atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen for one hour.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film was formed over the insulating filmand was processed into an island shape, whereby the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 was formed. The insulating film in contact with the bottomsurface of the oxide semiconductor film 112 was processed in successionto the oxide semiconductor film 112, whereby the insulating film 110 wasformed.

Note that processing into the oxide semiconductor film 112 was performedby a wet etching method, and processing into the insulating film 110 wasperformed by a dry etching method.

Next, an impurity element was added from above the insulating film 104,the oxide semiconductor film 108, the insulating film 110, and the oxidesemiconductor film 112. A doping apparatus was used for the impurityelement addition treatment, in which argon was used as the impurityelement.

Next, the insulating film 116 was formed over the insulating film 104,the oxide semiconductor film 108, the insulating film 110, and the oxidesemiconductor film 112. As the insulating film 116, a 100-nm-thicksilicon nitride film was formed with a PECVD apparatus.

Next, the insulating film 118 was formed over the insulating film 116.As the insulating film 118, a 300-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film wasformed with a PECVD apparatus.

Next, a mask was formed over the insulating film 118, and the openings141 a and 141 b were formed in the insulating films 116 and 118 usingthe mask. Processing into the openings 141 a and 141 b was performedwith a dry etching apparatus.

Next, the insulating film 122 was formed over the insulating film 118. A1.5-μm-thick acrylic-based photosensitive resin film was used as theinsulating film 122. Note that openings were provided in regions of theinsulating film 122 so as to overlap with the openings 141 a and 141 b.

Next, a conductive film was formed over the insulating film 122 so as tofill the openings 141 a and 141 b and was processed into island shapes,whereby the conductive films 120 a and 120 b were formed.

As the conductive films 120 a and 120 b, a 50-nm-thick titanium film, a400-nm-thick aluminum film, and a 100-nm-thick titanium film weresuccessively formed with a sputtering apparatus in a vacuum.

Through the above-described steps, the transistor corresponding to thetransistor 100C illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B was formed.

Note that in this example, the channel width W of the transistorcorresponding to the transistor 100C was 50 μm, while the channel lengthL was varied between 1.5 μm, 2.0 μm, and 3.0 μm. Note that as each typeof transistor with a different channel length L, 20 transistors wereformed over a substrate.

<1-2. Electrical Characteristics of Transistor>

FIGS. 33A to 33C show drain current-gate voltage (Id-Vg) characteristicsof the transistors of Sample A1 fabricated in this example.

Note that FIG. 33A shows the characteristics of the transistors with asize of W/L=50 μm/1.5 μm, FIG. 33B shows the characteristics of thetransistors with a size of W/L=50 μm/2.0 μm, and FIG. 33C shows thecharacteristics of the transistors with a size of W/L=50 μm/3.0 μm. InFIGS. 33A to 33C, the first vertical axis indicates Id [A], the secondvertical axis indicates field-effect mobility (μFE [cm²/Vs]), and thehorizontal axis indicates Vg [V].

As conditions for measuring the Id-Vg characteristics of eachtransistor, a voltage applied to the conductive film 106 functioning asthe first gate electrode of each transistor (hereinafter the voltage isalso referred to as gate voltage (Vg)) and a voltage applied to theoxide semiconductor film 112 functioning as the second gate electrode ofeach transistor (hereinafter the voltage is also referred to as backgate voltage (Vbg)) changed from −15 V to +20 V in increments of 0.25 V.A voltage applied to the conductive film 120 a functioning as a sourceelectrode (hereinafter the voltage is also referred to as source voltage(Vs)) was 0 V (comm), and a voltage applied to the conductive film 120 bfunctioning as a drain electrode (hereinafter the voltage is alsoreferred to as drain voltage (Vd)) was 1 V and 10 V. Note that in thetransistor with a size of W/L=50 μm/1.5 μm, the voltage Vg and Vbg eachchanged from −15 V to +15 V.

As shown in FIGS. 33A to 33C, the electrical characteristics of SampleA1 fabricated in this example were favorable regardless of the channellength (L).

Next, the cross section of the formed transistor with a size of W/L=50μm/20 μm was observed. FIGS. 34A and 34B show the results of thecross-sectional observation of the transistor. Note that a transmissionelectron microscope (TEM) was used for the cross-sectional observation.

FIG. 34A shows a cross section taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 34B shows a cross section taken along thedashed-dotted line Y1-Y2 in FIG. 7A.

As shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, Sample A1 fabricated in this example hada favorable cross-sectional shape.

The structure, method, and the like described in this example can becombined as appropriate with any of the other structures, methods, andthe like described in the other examples and the embodiments.

Example 2

For evaluation in this example, a transistor corresponding to thetransistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C was formed. The transistorwas evaluated by electrical characteristics measurement and reliabilitytest.

Moreover, in this example, Samples B1, B2, and B3 each including thetransistor corresponding to the transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3Ato 3C were fabricated. As the transistor size of Sample B1, the channellength L was set to 3 μm and the channel width W was set to 50 μm. Asthe transistor size of Sample B2, the channel length L was set to 2 μmand the channel width W was set to 50 μm. As the transistor size ofSample B3, the channel length L was set to 1.5 μm and the channel widthW was set to 3 μm.

Note that for comparison with Sample B1, Sample C1 including atransistor 300A for comparison was fabricated. FIGS. 35A to 35Cillustrate the structure of the transistor 300A for comparison.

The transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C is a staggeredtransistor, whereas the transistor 300A for comparison is an invertedstaggered transistor.

FIG. 35A is a top view of the transistor 300A. FIG. 35B is across-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line X1-X2 in FIG.35A. FIG. 35C is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dottedline Y1-Y2 in FIG. 35A.

The transistor 300A includes a conductive film 304 functioning as afirst gate electrode over a substrate 302, an insulating film 306 overthe substrate 302 and the conductive film 304, an insulating film 307over the insulating film 306, an oxide semiconductor film 308 over theinsulating film 307, a conductive film 312 a electrically connected tothe oxide semiconductor film 308 and functioning as a source electrode,a conductive film 312 b electrically connected to the oxidesemiconductor film 308 and functioning as a drain electrode, aninsulating film 314 over the oxide semiconductor film 308 and theconductive films 312 a and 312 b, an insulating film 316 over theinsulating film 314, an insulating film 318 over the insulating film316, and a conductive film 320 over the insulating film 318. Note thatthe oxide semiconductor film 308 has a stacked-layer structure of anoxide semiconductor film 308_2 and an oxide semiconductor film 308_3over the oxide semiconductor film 308_2.

The insulating films 314, 316, and 318 in the transistor 300A functionas a second gate insulating film.

The conductive film 320 in the transistor 300A functions as a secondgate electrode (also referred to as a back gate electrode). Asillustrated in FIG. 35C, the conductive film 320 is connected to theconductive film 304 functioning as the first gate electrode through aconductive film 312 c in an opening 341 provided in the insulating films306 and 307 and an opening 342 provided in the insulating films 314,316, and 318. Therefore, the same potential is applied to the conductivefilms 320 and 304. The transistor 300A has the s-channel structuredescribed above.

As the transistor size of Sample C1, the channel length L was set to 3μm and the channel width W was set to 50 μm. Note that in this example,10 transistors were formed in each of Samples B1 to B3 and Sample C1.

<2-1. Method for Fabricating Samples B1 to B3>

A method for fabricating Samples B1 to B3 used in this example isdescribed below. In the description below, the same reference numeralsare used for a structure similar to the structure of the transistor 100Aillustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

First, the substrate 102 was prepared. As the substrate 102, a glasssubstrate was used. Next, the conductive film 106 was formed over thesubstrate 102. As the conductive film 106, a 100-nm-thick tungsten filmwas formed with a sputtering apparatus.

Next, the insulating film 104 was formed over the substrate 102 and theconductive film 106. Note that in this example, as the insulating film104, the insulating films 104_1, 104_2, 104_3, and 104_4 weresuccessively formed in this order with a PECVD apparatus in a vacuum. A50-nm-thick silicon nitride film was formed as the insulating film104_1. A 300-nm-thick silicon nitride film was formed as the insulatingfilm 104_2. A 50-nm-thick silicon nitride film was formed as theinsulating film 104_3. A 50-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film was formedas the insulating film 104_4.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film was formed over the insulating film104 and was processed into an island shape, whereby the oxidesemiconductor film 108 was formed. A 40-nm-thick oxide semiconductorfilm was formed as the oxide semiconductor film 108. Note that asputtering apparatus was used to form the oxide semiconductor film 108,a metal oxide of In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 [atomic ratio] was used as asputtering target, and an AC power supply was used to supply power tothe sputtering target. Note that processing into the oxide semiconductorfilm 108 was performed by a wet etching method.

Next, an insulating film to be the insulating film 110 was formed overthe insulating film 104 and the oxide semiconductor film 108. As theinsulating film, a 30-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film, a 100-nm-thicksilicon oxynitride film, and a 20-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film weresuccessively formed with a PECVD apparatus in a vacuum.

Next, heat treatment was performed. The heat treatment was performed at350° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour.

Next, the opening 143 was formed. Processing into the opening 143 wasperformed by a dry etching method.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film was formed over the insulating filmand was processed into an island shape, whereby the oxide semiconductorfilm 112 was formed. A 100-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film was formedas the oxide semiconductor film 112. The composition of the oxidesemiconductor film 112 was the same as that of the oxide semiconductorfilm 108 described above. The insulating film was processed insuccession to the oxide semiconductor film 112, whereby the insulatingfilm 110 having an island shape was formed.

Note that processing into the oxide semiconductor film 112 was performedby a wet etching method, and processing into the insulating film 110 wasperformed by a dry etching method.

Next, an impurity element was added from above the insulating film 104,the oxide semiconductor film 108, the insulating film 110, and the oxidesemiconductor film 112. A doping apparatus was used for the impurityelement addition treatment, in which argon was used as the impurityelement.

Next, the insulating film 116 was formed over the insulating film 104and the oxide semiconductor films 108 and 112. As the insulating film116, a 100-nm-thick silicon nitride film was formed with a PECVDapparatus.

Next, the insulating film 118 was formed over the insulating film 116.As the insulating film 118, a 300-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film wasformed with a PECVD apparatus.

Next, a mask was formed over the insulating film 118, and the openings141 a and 141 b were formed in the insulating films 116 and 118 usingthe mask. Processing into the openings 141 a and 141 b was performedwith a dry etching apparatus.

Next, a conductive film was formed over the insulating film 118 so as tofill the openings 141 a and 141 b and was processed into island shapes,whereby the conductive films 120 a and 120 b were formed.

As the conductive films 120 a and 120 b, a 50-nm-thick titanium film, a400-nm-thick aluminum film, and a 100-nm-thick titanium film weresuccessively formed with a sputtering apparatus in a vacuum.

Next, heat treatment was performed. The heat treatment was performed at250° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour.

Through the above-described steps, Samples B1 to B3 were fabricated.

<2-2. Method for Fabricating Sample C1>

A method for fabricating Sample C1 used in this example is describedbelow.

First, the substrate 302 was prepared. As the substrate 302, a glasssubstrate was used. Next, the conductive film 304 was formed over thesubstrate 302. As the conductive film 304, a 100-nm-thick tungsten filmwas formed with a sputtering apparatus.

Next, the insulating films 306 and 307 were formed over the substrate302 and the conductive film 304. Note that in this example, as theinsulating film 306, a first insulating film, a second insulating film,and a third insulating film were successively formed in this order witha PECVD apparatus in a vacuum. A 50-nm-thick silicon nitride film wasformed as the first insulating film. A 300-nm-thick silicon nitride filmwas formed as the second insulating film. A 50-nm-thick silicon nitridefilm was formed as the third insulating film. A 50-nm-thick siliconoxynitride film was formed as the insulating film 307.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film was formed over the insulating film307 and was processed into an island shape, whereby the oxidesemiconductor film 308 was formed. The oxide semiconductor film 308 hada stacked-layer structure of the oxide semiconductor film 308_2 having athickness of 10 nm and the oxide semiconductor film 308_3 having athickness of 15 nm. Note that a sputtering apparatus was used to formthe oxide semiconductor film 308_2, a metal oxide of In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1[atomic ratio] was used as a sputtering target, and an AC power supplywas used to supply power to the sputtering target. Moreover, thesputtering apparatus was used to form the oxide semiconductor film308_3, a metal oxide of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1.2 [atomic ratio] was used as asputtering target, and an AC power supply was used to supply power tothe sputtering target. Note that processing into the oxide semiconductorfilm 308 was performed by a wet etching method.

Next, the opening 341 was formed in the insulating films 306 and 307.Processing into the opening 341 was performed with a dry etchingapparatus.

Next, a conductive film was formed over the insulating film 307 and theoxide semiconductor film 308 and was processed into island shapes,whereby the conductive films 312 a and 312 b were formed. As theconductive films 312 a to 312 c, a 50-nm-thick tungsten film, a400-nm-thick aluminum film, and a 100-nm-thick titanium film werestacked in this order with a sputtering apparatus.

Next, a surface of the oxide semiconductor film 308 (on a back channelside) was cleaned. As the cleaning method, a phosphoric acid solutionobtained by diluting phosphoric acid (concentration of 85 vol %) 100times with water was applied to the oxide semiconductor film 308 and theconductive films 312 a and 312 b with a spin cleaning apparatus. Notethat the cleaning was performed for 15 seconds.

Next, the insulating films 314 and 316 were formed over the oxidesemiconductor film 308 and the conductive films 312 a and 312 b. As theinsulating film 314, a 40-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film was formedwith a PECVD apparatus. As the insulating film 316, a 400-nm-thicksilicon oxynitride film was formed with a PECVD apparatus.

Next, heat treatment was performed. The heat treatment was performed at350° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour.

Then, a 5-nm-thick ITSO film was formed over the insulating film 316with a sputtering apparatus. Subsequently, oxygen addition treatment wasperformed on the oxide semiconductor film 308 and the insulating films306 and 307 through the ITSO film. The oxygen addition treatment wasperformed with an ashing apparatus under the conditions where thesubstrate temperature was 40° C., an oxygen gas at a flow rate of 250sccm was introduced into a chamber, the pressure was 15 Pa, and an RFpower of 4500 W was supplied for 120 seconds between parallel-plateelectrodes provided in the ashing apparatus so as to apply a bias to thesubstrate side.

Next, the ITSO film was removed to expose the insulating film 316. TheITSO film war removed using a wet etching apparatus in such a mannerthat etching was performed using an oxalic acid solution at aconcentration of 5% for 300 seconds and then etching was performed usinghydrofluoric acid at a concentration of 0.5% for 15 seconds.

Next, the insulating film 318 was formed over the insulating film 316.As the insulating film 318, a 100-nm-thick silicon nitride film wasformed with a PECVD apparatus.

Next, the opening 342 that reaches the conductive film 312 c was formed.Processing into the opening 342 was performed with a dry etchingapparatus.

Then, a conductive film was formed in a desired position over theconductive film 312 c and the insulating film 318 to cover the opening342, whereby the conductive film 320 was formed. As the conductive film320, a 100-nm-thick ITSO film was formed with a sputtering apparatus.

Next, heat treatment was performed. The heat treatment was performed at250° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour.

Through the above-described steps, Sample C1 for comparison wasfabricated.

<2-3. Electrical Characteristics of Transistor>

FIGS. 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 show drain current-gate voltage (Id-Vg)characteristics of the transistors of fabricated Samples B1 to B3 andSample C1. Note that FIG. 36 shows the characteristics of thetransistors of Sample B1, FIG. 37 shows the characteristics of thetransistors of Sample B2, and FIG. 38 shows the characteristics of thetransistors of Sample B3. FIG. 39 shows the characteristics of thetransistors of Sample B1, and FIG. 40 shows the characteristics of thetransistors of Sample C1. Note that FIG. 39 is a graph in which thefield-effect mobility of the transistors of Sample B1 is superimposed onthe Id-Vg characteristics shown in FIG. 36. In each of FIGS. 36 to 40,data of the 10 transistors are superimposed on each other.

In FIGS. 36 to 38, the vertical axis indicates Id [A], and thehorizontal axis indicates Vg [V]. In FIGS. 39 to 40, the first verticalaxis indicates Id [A], the second vertical axis indicates field-effectmobility (μFE [cm²/Vs]), and the horizontal axis indicates Vg [V].

As conditions for measuring the Id-Vg characteristics of each transistorof Sample B1, a voltage applied to the conductive film 106 functioningas the first gate electrode of each transistor (hereinafter the voltageis also referred to as back gate voltage (Vbg)) and a voltage applied tothe oxide semiconductor film 112 functioning as the second gateelectrode of each transistor (hereinafter the voltage is also referredto as gate voltage (Vg)) changed from −15 V to +20 V in increments of0.25 V. As conditions for measuring the Id-Vg characteristics of eachtransistor of Sample B2, back gate voltage (Vbg) and gate voltage (Vg)of each transistor changed from −15 V to +15 V in increments of 0.25 V.As conditions for measuring the Id-Vg characteristics of each transistorin Sample B3, back gate voltage (Vbg) and gate voltage (Vg) of eachtransistor changed from −15 V to +10 V in increments of 0.25 V. Asconditions for measuring the Id-Vg characteristics of each transistor inSample C1, a voltage applied to the conductive film 304 functioning asthe first gate electrode of each transistor (gate voltage (Vg)) and avoltage applied to the conductive film 320 functioning as the secondgate electrode of each transistor (back gate voltage (Vbg)) changed from−15 V to +15 V in increments of 0.25 V.

In Samples B1 to B3 and Sample C1, a voltage applied to the conductivefilm (the conductive film 120 a or 312 a) functioning as a sourceelectrode (hereinafter the voltage is also referred to as source voltage(Vs)) was 0 V (comm), and a voltage applied to the conductive film (theconductive film 120 b or 312 b) functioning as a drain electrode(hereinafter the voltage is also referred to as drain voltage (Vd)) was0.1 V and 20 V.

The results in FIGS. 36 to 38 show that the transistor of one embodimentof the present invention was a normally-off transistor even when thechannel length was reduced to 1.5 μm. Furthermore, the results show thatSamples B1 to B3 had less variation in the substrate surface.

The results in FIGS. 39 and 40 show that the field-effect mobility ofboth of Sample B1 and Sample C1 exceeds 30 cm²/Vs. However, when SampleB1 and Sample C1 were compared with each other, Sample B1 of oneembodiment of the present invention had higher field-effect mobilitythan Sample C1.

<2-5. Constant-Current Stress Test>

Next, a constant-current stress test was performed on Sample B1 andSample C1. Note that the constant-current stress test was performedunder an air atmosphere in a dark state (dark).

Note that the measurement of Id-Vg characteristics was performed bymeasuring drain current when drain voltage was set to 0.1 V and 10 V andgate voltage was swept in the range of −15 V to 15 V.

In the constant-current stress test for Sample B1, the substratetemperature was set at room temperature, and the first measurement ofId-Vg characteristics and Id-Vd characteristics was performed. Then, thesubstrate temperature was set to 60° C., a source potential was set to aground potential (GND), a drain potential was set to 10 V, and a gatepotential was set to 1.88 V, and the state was maintained for 48 hours.After that, the second measurement of Id-Vg characteristics and Id-Vdcharacteristics was performed.

In the constant-current stress test for Sample C1, the substratetemperature was set at room temperature, and the first measurement ofId-Vg characteristics and Id-Vd characteristics was performed. Then, thesubstrate temperature was set to 60° C., a source potential was set to aground potential (GND), a drain potential was set to 10 V, and a gatepotential was set to 1.99 V, and the state was maintained for 24 hours.After that, the second measurement of Id-Vg characteristics and Id-Vdcharacteristics was performed.

The results of the constant-current stress test performed on Sample B1and Sample C1 are shown in FIGS. 41A to 41C. Note that FIG. 41A showsthe change rates of drain currents (Id) of Sample B1 and Sample C1 withrespect to stress time. FIG. 41B shows the Id-Vg characteristics ofSample B1 before and after the stress test, and FIG. 41C shows the Id-Vdcharacteristics of Sample B1 before and after the stress test.

Note that in FIG. 41A, a black solid line indicates the measurementresult of Sample B1, and a gray solid line indicates those of Sample C1.In FIG. 41B, a solid line indicates the Id-Vg characteristics before thestress test, and a dashed line indicates those after the stress test. InFIG. 41C, a solid line indicates the Id-Vd characteristics before thestress test, and a dashed line indicates those after the stress test.

As shown in FIGS. 41A to 41C, the amount of change in the drain currentbefore and after the stress test is small in Sample B1 of one embodimentof the present invention. This also shows that a semiconductor deviceincluding the transistor of one embodiment of the present invention hashigh reliability.

The structure, method, and the like described in this example can becombined as appropriate with any of the other structures, methods, andthe like described in the other examples and the embodiments.

Example 3

In this example, Sample D1 in which transistors of one embodiment of thepresent invention were formed was fabricated, and the cross-sectionalshape of Sample D1 was observed.

<3-1. Cross-Sectional Observation>

In Sample D1, a planarization insulating film was formed overtransistors corresponding to the transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3Ato 3C. As the transistor size of Sample D1, the channel length L was setto 2 μm and the channel width W was set to 50 μm.

The structure of Sample D1 is described below with the referencenumerals and the like of the transistor 100A illustrated in FIGS. 3A to3C.

As the conductive film 106, a stacked-layer film of a 10-nm-thicktantalum nitride film and a 100-nm-thick copper film was formed with asputtering apparatus. As the insulating film 104, a 400-nm-thick siliconnitride oxide film and a 50-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film were formedwith a PECVD apparatus. As the oxide semiconductor film 108, a40-nm-thick In—Ga—Zn oxide film was formed. Note that a sputteringapparatus was used to form the In—Ga—Zn oxide, a metal oxide ofIn:Ga:Zn=1:1:1.2 [atomic ratio] was used as a sputtering target, and anAC power supply was used to supply power to the sputtering target. Asthe insulating film 110, a 100-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film wasformed with a PECVD apparatus. As the oxide semiconductor film 112, a100-nm-thick In—Ga—Zn oxide was formed with a sputtering apparatus. Notethat the sputtering apparatus was used to form the In—Ga—Zn oxide, ametal oxide of In:Ga:Zn=4:2:4.1 [atomic ratio] was used as a sputteringtarget, and an AC power supply was used to supply power to thesputtering target. As the insulating film 116, a 100-nm-thick siliconnitride film was formed with a PECVD apparatus. As the insulating film118, a 400-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film was formed with a PECVDapparatus. As the conductive films 120 a and 120 b, a 50-nm-thick copperalloy (Cu—Mn) film and a 100-nm-thick copper film were formed with asputtering apparatus.

Moreover, in Sample D1, a 1.5-μm-thick acrylic-based resin film wasformed as an insulating film 158 over the insulating film 118 and theconductive films 120 a and 120 b.

FIG. 42 shows the observation result of the cross section of Sample D1fabricated in the above-described manner. As shown in FIG. 42, Sample D1fabricated in this example was confirmed to have a favorablecross-sectional shape. The result indicates that parasitic capacitanceis small particularly because the channel length L is 2.01 μm and thedistance between the conductive film 106 functioning as the first gateelectrode and the conductive films 120 a and 120 b functioning as thesource and drain electrodes is long.

The structure described in this example can be combined as appropriatewith any of the other structures described in the other examples and theembodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: transistor, 100A: transistor, 100B: transistor, 100C: transistor,100D: transistor, 100E: transistor, 100F: transistor, 100G: transistor,102, substrate, 104: insulating film, 104_1: insulating film, 104_2:insulating film, 104_3: insulating film, 104_4: insulating film, 106:conductive film, 107: oxide semiconductor film, 108: oxide semiconductorfilm, 108_1: oxide semiconductor film, 108_2: oxide semiconductor film,108_3: oxide semiconductor film, 108 d: drain region, 108 f: region, 108i: channel region, 108 s: source region, 110: insulating film, 110_0:insulating film, 112: oxide semiconductor film, 112_0: oxidesemiconductor film, 112 a: conductive film, 112 b: conductive film, 114:conductive film, 116: insulating film, 118: insulating film, 120:conductive film, 120 a: conductive film, 120 b: conductive film, 122:insulating film, 140: mask, 141 a: opening, 141 b: opening, 143:opening, 145: impurity element, 147: hollow region, 150: transistor,150A: transistor, 150B: transistor, 158: insulating film, 300A:transistor, 302: substrate, 304: conductive film, 306: insulating film,307: insulating film, 308: oxide semiconductor film, 308_2: oxidesemiconductor film, 308_3: oxide semiconductor film, 312 a: conductivefilm, 312 b: conductive film, 312 c: conductive film, 314: insulatingfilm, 316: insulating film, 317: insulating film, 318: insulating film,320: conductive film, 341: opening, 342: opening, 501: pixel circuit,502: pixel portion, 504: driver circuit portion, 504 a: gate driver, 504b: source driver, 506: protection circuit, 507: terminal portion, 550:transistor, 552: transistor, 554: transistor, 560: capacitor, 562:capacitor, 570: liquid crystal element, 572: light-emitting element,700: display device, 701: substrate, 702: pixel portion, 704: sourcedriver circuit portion, 705: substrate, 706: gate driver circuitportion, 708: FPC terminal portion, 710: signal line, 711: wiringportion, 712: sealant, 716: FPC, 730: insulating film, 732: sealingfilm, 734: insulating film, 736: coloring film, 738: light-blockingfilm, 750: transistor, 752: transistor, 760: connection electrode, 770:planarization insulating film, 772: conductive film, 774: conductivefilm, 775: liquid crystal element, 776: liquid crystal layer, 778:structure, 780: anisotropic conductive film, 782: light-emittingelement, 784: conductive film, 786: EL layer, 788: conductive film, 790:capacitor, 1280 a: p-channel transistor, 1280 b: n-channel transistor,1280 c: n-channel transistor, 1281: capacitor, 1282: transistor, 1311:wiring, 1312: wiring, 1313: wiring, 1314: wiring, 1315: wiring, 1316:wiring, 1317: wiring, 1351: transistor, 1352: transistor, 1353:transistor, 1354: transistor, 1360: photoelectric conversion element,1401: signal, 1402: signal, 1403: signal, 1404: signal, 1405: signal,8000: display module, 8001: upper cover, 8002: lower cover, 8003: FPC,8004: touch panel, 8005: FPC, 8006: display panel, 8007: backlight,8008: light source, 8009: frame, 8010: printed circuit board, 8011:battery, 9000: housing, 9001: display portion, 9003: speaker, 9005:operation key, 9006: connection terminal, 9007: sensor, 9008:microphone, 9050: operation button, 9051: information, 9052:information, 9053: information, 9054: information, 9055: hinge, 9100:television device, 9101: portable information terminal, 9102: portableinformation terminal, 9200: portable information terminal, 9201:portable information terminal.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no.2015-104502 filed with Japan Patent Office on May 22, 2015 and JapanesePatent Application serial no. 2015-150231 filed with Japan Patent Officeon Jul. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

1. A semiconductor device comprising: an oxide semiconductor film; agate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; an oxideconductor over the gate insulating film; and a first insulating filmover the oxide semiconductor film and the oxide conductor, wherein thefirst insulating film is in contact with a top surface of oxidesemiconductor film and a side surface of the oxide conductor, andwherein the oxide conductor has a higher carrier density than the oxidesemiconductor film.
 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the oxide conductor includes at least oxygen, In, Zn, and M (Mis Al, Ga, Y, or Sn).
 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,further comprising a conductive film between the oxide conductor and thefirst insulating film, wherein the first insulating film is in contactwith top and side surfaces of the conductive film.
 4. The semiconductordevice according to claim 1, wherein an upper end portion of the gateinsulating film is aligned with a lower end portion of the oxideconductor or positioned outside the lower end portion of the oxideconductor.
 5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein thefirst insulating film contains at least one of nitrogen and hydrogen. 6.The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising: asecond insulating film over the first insulating film; and a sourceelectrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductorfilm through a first opening in the first insulating film and the secondinsulating film.
 7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the oxide semiconductor film includes at least oxygen, In, Zn,and M (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn).
 8. The semiconductor device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the oxide semiconductor film and theoxide conductor contains a crystal part, and wherein the crystal parthas c-axis alignment.
 9. A semiconductor device comprising: a firstconductive film; a first insulating film over the first conductive film;a first oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film; a gateinsulating film over the first oxide semiconductor film; an oxideconductor over the gate insulating film; and a second insulating filmover the first oxide semiconductor film and the oxide conductor, whereinthe oxide conductor has a higher carrier density than the first oxidesemiconductor film.
 10. The semiconductor device according to claim 9,wherein the oxide conductor includes at least oxygen, In, Zn, and M (Mis Al, Ga, Y, or Sn).
 11. The semiconductor device according to claim 9,wherein the second insulating film is in contact with a top surface ofoxide semiconductor film and a side surface of the oxide conductor. 12.The semiconductor device according to claim 9, further comprising asecond conductive film between the oxide conductor and the firstinsulating film, wherein the second insulating film is in contact withtop and side surfaces of the second conductive film.
 13. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein the first conductivefilm is connected to the oxide conductor through a first opening in thefirst insulating film and the gate insulating film.
 14. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 9, further comprising: a secondoxide semiconductor film over the first oxide semiconductor film. 15.The semiconductor device according to claim 14, further comprising: athird oxide semiconductor film over the second oxide semiconductor film.16. The semiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein an upper endportion of the gate insulating film is aligned with a lower end portionof the oxide conductor or positioned outside the lower end portion ofthe oxide conductor.
 17. The semiconductor device according to claim 9,wherein the second insulating film contains at least one of nitrogen andhydrogen.
 18. The semiconductor device according to claim 9, furthercomprising: a third insulating film over the second insulating film; anda source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the first oxidesemiconductor film through a second opening in the second insulatingfilm and the third insulating film.
 19. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the first oxide semiconductor filmincludes at least oxygen, In, Zn, and M (M is Al, Ga, Y, or Sn).
 20. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of thefirst oxide semiconductor film and the oxide conductor contains acrystal part, and wherein the crystal part has c-axis alignment.